iEx  Htbrtfi 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


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A  SERMON,  &c. 


JUBILEE 

A  SERMON, 


CONTAINING   A   HISTORY   OF   THE  ORIGIN  OF 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHUJICH  IX  THh 
CITY  OF  NEW-FORK, 

AND  ITS  PROCRESS,  DURING  THE  FIRST  FIFTY  YEARS 
SINCE   ITS  CONSTITUTION  : 

(with  explanatory  .notes) 

Delivered  in  the  Meeting-House  of  said  Church,  Jan,  1,  181S. 
BY  WM.  PARKINSON,  A,  M.  Pastor 

Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee— 
Dent.  8.  2. 

The  Lord  is  good  :  a  strong  hoid  in  Ithe  dav  of  trouble  ;  and  he  knowetb 
them  that  trust  in  him — Nabttm  I.  7. 


TO  WHICH  ARE  ANNEXED 

A  Narrative  of  Facts,  interspersed  with  Remarks  ;  and  an  Ap- 
pendix ;  all  relating  to  the  Reports  that  have  gone  abroad, 
concerning  the  Pastor  of  the  above  named  Church  ;  showing 
their  incredibility,  and  so  tlic  innocence  of  the  Church  in  re- 
taming  him  in  offi.ee,  those  reports  notwithstanding, 

—   ■!      "   ■  u 

BY  THE  ACCUSED 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  PROPRIETOR 
NEW-YORK 


912 


To  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  flic  City  of  New-Fork. 


YOUR  Committee,  chosen  to  examine  tbe  His- 
torical Sermon  preached  by  your  Pastor  on  the  first 
day  of  this  year,  also  the  annexed  Narrative  of  facts— 
the  remarks  with  which  it  is  interspersed,  and  the 
Appendix, 

Report,  that,  so  far  as  their  knowledge  extends, 
and  so  far  as  they  have  been  able  to  gain  information 
either  by  tradition  or  by  existing  documents,  whether 
in  manuscript  or  in  print,  the  said  History  and  Nar- 
rative are  substantially  true ;  and  the  notes  and  re- 
marks well  founded:  and  although  some  things  of 
secondary  importance,  are  stated  in  the  Narrative, 
which  we  have  had  no  opportunity  of  knowing,  yet, 
from  corroborating  circumstances,  and  from  the  con- 
fidence we  have  in  the  Author,  as  a  man  of  grace  and 
integrity,  we  do  give  to  the  said  things  entire  credit. 

Moreover  it  is  our  opinion,  that,  in  justice  to  the 
cause  of  Christ  in  general,  and  of  the  Church  and 
its  Pastor  in  particular,  the  said  Sermon,  Narrative 
and  Appendix,  together  with  the  notes  and  remarks 
accompanying  them,  ought  to  be  printed. 

JAMES  DUFFIE, 

JOHN  BEDIENT, 

SAMUEL  F.  RANDOLPH, 

WILLIAM  WILLKSS, 

PETER  CONREY, 

ROSEWELL  GRAVES, 

NICHOLAS  B.  LYON, 

JOHN  TIEBOUT, 

WILLIAM  LAWSON,  ) 

ELKANAH  MEAD,       f  Other  members  of  the 

THOMAS  COTTRELL,  C  Church. 

JAMES  HALL,  ) 

WILLIAM  DODGE,  ^ 

THOMAS  T.  CAMPBELL, 

SAMUEL  CROW,  )>Of  the  con?rt 

WILLIAM  W.  TODD,  I      gat  ion/ 

SLDAD  HOLMES.  j 


Deacons, 


CERTIFICATE,  &c* 


The  church  received  and  concurred  in  the  Report 
of  their  committee — solicited  of  their  pastor  a  copy 
of  the  above  named  manuscripts  for  publication,  and 
referred  to  the  same  committee  the  superintendance 
of  printing  the  work. 

For  the  further  satisfaction  of  the  reader,  that 
certain  persons  named  in  the  following  Narrative  had 
the  conversations  which  they  are  represented  to  have 
had  with  the  accusers  of  the  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  in  New- York,  their  signatures  have  been 
taken  to  the  following  certificate.  And,  that  those 
who  may  be  so  disposed,  may  themselves  see  and  con- 
verse with  the  said  persons,  the  places  are  designa- 
ted at  which  they  severally  reside.  J 

CERTIFICATE. 

Whereas,  in  the  following  Narrative,  we  are  re- 
presented as  having  had  conversations  with  certain 
persons  who  have  brought  accusations  against  Elder 
Parkinson,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
this  city,  and  as  reporting  what  the  said  accusers  said 
to  us  concerning  the  said  Elder, 

We  do  hereby  certify,  that  the  reports  of  our  con- 
versations, as  stated  in  the  said  Narrative,  are,  to 
the  best  of  our  remembrance,  substantially  true. 

Given  under  our  hands,  New-York,  March  16tb, 
1813. 

[Relative  to  the  case  of  Susan  Colhoun,  p.  25.] 

DOROTHY  FRASER,  No.  5.  Vandewater  st.  )  Members 
HESTER  MOUN  T,  No.  43.  Elizabeth  st.  }  °{ lhe  firi* 
WILLIAM  Mc'KEAN,  No.  44  AVarren  st.         )  J£y,rh  ' 

WILLIAM  W.  TODD,  No.  25  Gold  st.-— Of  the  congre- 
gation. 

RACHEL  GENDER,  (sister  of  the  accuser)  No.  86  Cburcfc 
st. — A  member  of  the  Methodist  society. 


CERTIFICATE,  &c. 


[Relative  to  the  case  of  Frances  Stewart,  p.  26 — 38.] 
MARY  DE  LA  MONT  AN  YE,  (wife  of  John)  ^ 

No.  103  Elm  St.  Members  oj 

ANDREW  SEGER,  No.  12.  Bowery  Lane.  VaJ/f 
JOHN  WILSON,  No.  73  Pearl  st.  {  Church™ 

JOHN  TALLIYIAN,   )  XT     AO  XT        w  ,  New-York. 

„  r B,.    .      u.      .f  >  No.  42  North  Moore  st. 
and  Elizabeth  his  wile  ^ 

[Relative  to  tlie  case  of  Margaret  Dibble,  p.  39.] 
ELK  AN  AH  MEAD,  corner  of  Hudson  &  Budd  st.  ^  Member, 
ISAAC  RAQUA,  Hudson  st.  between  Budd  and  \°L%C>} 
Spring  st. 

NICHOLAS  B.  LYON,  No.  20  Mulberry  st.        J  N.  York 

[Relative  to  the  case  of  Sarah  Butler  and  the  committee, 
p.  62—64.] 

WILLIAM  WILLESS  No.  31  Maiden  Lane.-) 
NICHOLAS  B.  LYON,  No.  20  Mulberry  st.    I  Members  of 
JOHN  BEDIENT,  corner  of  Gold  and  John  st.  J> the  <^™J  * 
ELKANAH  MEAD,  corner  of  Hudson  and  |  X« 
Budd  st.  J 

[Relative  to  the  case  of  Elders  Williams  and  Rets,  Appendix,} 

JOHN  BEDIENT,  |  places  of  residence  already  sue- 
WILLIAM  W.  TODD,  |  cified. 

THOMAS  COTTRELL,  No.  103  Mott  st.     A  member 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  N.  York. 


JUBILEE; 

A  SERMON,  &c. 


I.  Samuel,  VII.  12. 

1  hen  Samuel  took  a  stone  and  set  it  between  Mizpeh  and 
Shcn,  and  called  the  name  of  it  Ebcn-eser,  saying,  Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us. 

WHAT  is  here  recorded  is  accounted  for  in  the 
history  with  which  it  is  connected.  From  this  his- 
tory it  appears  that  the  Israelites  had  then  heen  long 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Philistines  ;  who  had  not 
only  greatly  annoyed  them  hy  advantages  taken 
in  war,  hut  also  interrupted  and  suspended  their  pub- 
lic worship,by  carrying  away  the  ark  of  the  Lord. (a) 
The  ark,  indeed,  they  did  not  long  detain;(6)  for, 
having  set  it  in  the  temple  of  Dagon,  probably,  as 
atrophy  of  his  supposed  victory  over  the  God  of  the 
Hebrews,  Dagon  was  broken  to  pieces  before  it ; 
and  wherever  they  placed  it,  a  plague  of  emcrods 
was  upon  the  persons,  and  another  of  mice  upon  the 
fields  of  the  inhabitants. (c)  The  Philistines,  affright- 
ed at  these  judgments,  assembled  their  lords,  their 
priests  and  their  diviners,  at  whose  united  advice  the 
ark  was  sent  back  and  accompanied  with  valuable 
presents.(fl)  It  was  set  down  in  the  field  of  Joshua 
the  Beth-shemite.(c)   Here  again  the  indignation  of 

(a)  Chap.  5.  1. 

(b)  Only  seven  months,  chap.  6.1. 

(c)  Chap.  5.  3,  4,  9.  and  chan.  6.  5. 

(d)  Golden  images  of  theemerods  and  mice.  Chap.  5. 3. 
und  chap.  6.  2,  3,  4,  5, 15. 

Ac)  Chap.  6.  IB. 

A 


2 


God  against  the  profanation  of  this  sacred  article, 
was  awfully  displayed  :  «  fifty  thousand  threescore 
and  ten"  of  the  Betk-shemites,  for  curiously  looking 
into  it,  were  smitten  with  some  fearful  disease,  and 
many,  if  not  all  of  tkem,  with  death.(f)  Alarm- 
ed at  this,  the  Betk-shemites  sent  messengers  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Kirjath-jearim,  saying  "  The 
«  Philistines  have  brought  again  the  ark  of  the 
"  Lord  ;  come  ye  down  and  fetch  it  up  to  you."(g) 
The  men  of  Kirjath-jearim  (as  related  verse  1  of  this 
chap.)  brought  it  up,  and,  apparently,  without  any 
apprehensions,  set  it  in  the  house  of  Abinadab.  Here 
it  abode  a  long  time,*  during  which,  under  the  la- 
bours of  Samuel,  the  Israelites  were  awakened  to  a 
sense  of  their  sad  condition,  and  caused  to  seek  their 
forsaken  God  by  means  of  it  :  "  all  the  house  of 
**  Israel[ver.  2.]  lamented  after  the  Lord."  There  may 
be  much  lamentation  without  any  amendment;  there- 
fore, as  an  evidence  of  sincerity,  Samuel  required 
that  they  put  away  their  idols  ;  and  which,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  3d  and  ith  verses  of  the  chap,  they 
readily  did.  Now,  being  assembled  for  public  humili- 
ation and  prayer,  they  solemnly  confessed  their  sins 
saying,  "  We  have  sinned  against  the  Lord."  ver.  6. 
The  Lord  forgave  them,  as  is  evident  by  his  inter- 
positions in  their  favour  ;  nevertheless,  the  Philis- 

(/)  Chap.  6.  19. 

(V)  Chap.  6.21. 

Even  until  the  times  of  David, — yea  until  he  had  reign- 
ed 7  years  over  Judah,  and  was  made  kins:  over  all  Israel : 
1.  Chron.  13.  6,  7  ;  a  lapse  of  time  including  the  government 
both  of  Samuel  and  Saul,  and  could  not  hove  been  less  than 
between  40  and  50  years.  Consequently  the  20  years  men- 
tioned, 1  Sam.  7.  2.  must  design  not  all  the  time  the  ark  was 
at  Kirjath-jearim ;  but  either  the  time  it  was  there  before 
much  noticed  by  the  Israelites,  or  the  time  it  remained  there 
after  they  were  brought  again  to  seek  the  Lord  in  the  use 
of  it. 


3 

tines,  having  the  disposition,  not  of  the  Lord,  but 
of  Satan,  retained  their  ill-will  against  them  ;  yea 
seem  to  have  been  the  more  exasperated  at  ih  ir 
penitence;  for  "  when  tbej  beard  that  the  children 
"  of  Israel  were  gathered  together  at  Mizpeh,"  for 
the  devotional  purposes  already  mentioned,  "  the 
"  lords  of  the  Philistines,"  with  their  forces,  "  went 
"  up  against  Israel."  The  Israelites  Mere  in  great 
fear;  and,  sensible  that  none  but  God  could  deliver  - 
and  protect  them,  they  besought  Samuel  to  intercede 
with  him  in  their  behalf:  «  Cease  not,"  said  they  to 
him  [ver.  8.]  «  to  cry  unto  the  Lord  our  God  for  us, 
"  that  he  will  save  us  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philis- 
•f  tines."  "  And,"  [ver.  9.]  Samuel  took  a  sucking 
"  lamb,  and  offered  it  for  a  burnt-offering  wholly 
«  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  Samuel  cried  unto  the  Lord  ; 
"  and  the  Lord  heard  him."  Did  not  Samuel,  in 
these  acts  typify  Christ,  who  took  his  human  nature, 
as  a  lamb  without  spot,  and  offered  it  to  God  to  make 
an  atonement  for  the  sins  of  his  people, (ft)  and  who 
not  only  upon  the  cross  cried  <»  Father  forgive 
99  them,''  but  also, having  ascended  to  heaven,  "  ever 
"  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  the  in?"  ileb.  7.  25. 
Let,  then,  spiritual  Israelites,  amid  ail  their  enemies 
and  undei  all  their  fears  and  discouragements,  have 
recourse  to  their  divine  intercessor;  for  if  Samuel 
was  heard,  how  much  more  Christ  ?  That  Samuel 
was  heard  is  manifest  from  the  providence  which 
followed  :  "  As  Samuel,  [ver.  10.]  was  offering  up  the 
66  burnt-offering,"  accompanied,  as  appears  from  the 
connexion,  with  cries  to  God,  M  the  Philistines 
«  drew  near  to  battle  againstlsrael ;"  they  drew  near, 
but  to  their  own  ruin  : — they  drew  near,  "  but  the 
"  Lord  thundered  with  a  great  thunder  on  that  day 

(h)  Heb.  9.  14.  1.  Pet.  1.  10. 


h 

**  upon  the  Philistines,  and  discomfited  them,"  This 
thunder  storm  was  the  accomplishment  of  Hannah's 
prophecy  ;  [see  chap.  2.  ver.  10  ]  and  therefore,  not- 
withstanding it  imiy  have  proceeded,  as  in  common, 
from   natural  causes,   it,  nevertheless,  unquestion- 
ably, occurred  at  that  particular  tiaie  and  place, 
and  to  accomplish  that  particular  purpose,  by  the 
special  appointment  of  God.     According  to  Jose- 
phus  *  the  thunder  was  attended  with  an  earthquake; 
so  that  heaven  and  earth  were  combined  to  effect  the 
ruin  of  Israel's  enemies  ;  for  the  terrible  lightning 
-which   accompanied  the  thunder,   while  it  struck 
many  dead,  so  blinded  the  others  that  they  could  not 
see  their  way ;   and  the  earth,  at  the  same  time, 
opening  in  divers  places,  numbers  fell  into  the  yawn- 
ing cavities  and  perished.    It  is  added,  "  they  were 
«  smitten  before  Israel  f*  not  by  Israel,  observe/'  hut 
J>efore  Israel  ;  for  they  were  discomfited    by  the 
lightning  and  the  earthquake  ;  and  which  was  before 
Israel,  both  as  to  place  and  time;  as  to  place,  being 
before  their  eyes,  and  as  to  time,  being  before  they 
went  out  against  them.    ««  The  men  of  Israel,"  how- 
ever, encouraged  by  this  signal  interposition  of  God, 
"  went  out  of  Mizpeh,  [ver.  11.]  and  pursued  the  Phi- 
listines (those  of  them  who  survived  the  lightning 
and  the  earthquake)  and  smote  them,   until  they 
came  unto  Beth-car,"  which  is  a  city  of  the  Danites, 
and  probably  20  or  30  miles  distant  from  Mizpeh.f 

Now,  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  this  remark- 
able display  of  divine  power  and  goodness  in  favour 
of  Israel,  Samuel,  according  to  the  custom  of  Old 

*  L,  6.  c.  2.  §  2. 

f  This  victory  was  another  and  a  very  considerable  ad- 
vance of  that  deliverance  from  the  power  of  the  Philistines 
which  God  had  promised  to  Israel,  and  which  he  began  to 
effect  by  the  instrumentality  of  Sampson,  Judges,  13.  5} 


Testament  times, (i)  erected  the  monument  men- 
tioned in  the  text.  **  Then  Samuel  took  a  stone,  and 
set  it  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and  called  the  name 
of  it  i^ben-ezer,"  that  is,  a  stone  of  help,  «  saying," 
as  explanatory  of  what  he  had  done,  «  Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us/' 

With  a  similar  view,  and  in  conformity  to  the 
times  of  the  New  Testament,  J  have  composed  and 
now  deliver  this  sermon  ;  the  object  of  which  is  to 
preserve  the  recollection  of  the  great  goodness  of 
God  to  this  church,  as  it  hath  appeared  in  the 
providences  which  have  attended  the  same,  from  its 
origin  to  about  the  middle  of  the  last  year,* — a  year 
which,  by  way  of  allusion  to  an  Old  Testament  Insti- 
tution, may  be  termed  its  Jubile  Fear,  being  the 
50th  since  its  constitution. 

The  method  thought  to  be  the  best  calculated  to 
answer  the  end  proposed,  is  to  review 

I.  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  constitution 
•f  this  church,  and 

II.  The  circumstances  which  have  marked  its  pro- 
gress. 

1.  The  circumstances  which  led  to  the  constitution 
of  this  church. 

In  noticing  these  it  must  not  be  concealed,  that 
although  the  church  whose  history  is  under  consider- 
ation, is  called  The  First  tiaptist  Church  in  the  Citij 
of  New -Fork,  and  although  compared  with  all  other 
churches  of  the  same;denomination  now  in  the  place, 

(i)  Gen.  28.  18,  31,  45.  &35,  14.  Josh.  4.  3—9,  and  24. 
26,  27. 

*  At  which  time  it  had  been  intended  to  preach  the  ser- 
mon, but  the  want  of  some  necessary  information  prevented. 
That  period  having;  past,  it  was  from  various  causes,  postpon- 
ed from  time  to  time,  until  finally  it  was  thought  expedient 
to  reserve  the  subject  for  this  day — a  day  on  which,  annually, 
we  make  a  collection  for  our  poor. 


6 


it  is  in  fact  so,  yet  that  a  small  society  called  a  Bap- 
tist church  had  once  existed  here,  hut  was  dissolved, 
before  the  formation  of  this  chuivh.  Thai  society, 
however,  consisted  of  professed  JLrminians9  and  was 
denominated  a  Baptist  church  merely  from  the  cha- 
racteristic ordinance  of  baptism.  The  founders  of  it 
were  a  Mr.  Wickenden  of  Providence ;  a  Mr.  Whit- 
man of  Groton  ;  and  a  Mr.  Ay  res,  probably,  a  native 
of  this  place ;  all  of  whom  were  Arminian  Baptist 
preachers.  Mr.  Wickcnden  first  preached  here 
about  the  year  1709,  and  here  suffered  three  months 
imprisonment;  occasioned,  according  to  the  best  in- 
formation we  can  obtain, by  his  having  preached  with- 
out a  license  from  an  officer  of  the  crown.  Mr.  Whit- 
man came  hither  in  the  year  1712,  by  invitation 
of  Mr.  Ayres,  who  had  providentially  heard  him, 
and  continued  his  visits  for  about  two  years.  His 
place  of  preaching  was  Mr.  Ayres'  dwelling  house. 
Under  his  ministry  many  became  serious,  and  some 
professed  a  hope  in  Christ,  among  whom  was  Mr. 
Ayres  his  host.  Of  these,  seven  males  and  five 
females  *  were  baptized  by  Mr.  Whitman,  in  171*, 
and  who  are  the  first  known  to  have  been  baptized  in 
this  city*  Having  apprehensions  from  the  mob,  they, 
with  the  administrator,  assembled  at  the  water  in  the 
night,  when  the  five  females  were  baptized  ;  but  dur- 
ing the  administration  of  the  ordinance  to  them,  these 
words  of  Christ  ;  "  No  man  doeth  any  thing  in  se- 
cret when  he  himself  seeketh  to  be  known  openly,"(fe) 
were  so  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  Mr.  Ayres  as  to 
convince  him  that  it  was  not  his  duty  to  he  baptized  in 

*  Viz:  Nicholas  Ayres,  (mentioned  above,)  Nathaniel 
Morey,  Anthony  Webb,  John  Howes,  Edward  Hoyter, 
Cornelius  Stephens,  James  Daneman,  Elizabeth  Morey, 
Hannah  Wright,  Esther  Cowley,  Martha  Stephens,  Mre. 
Miller. 

(k)  John  7.  4. 


7 


that  secret  manner :  he  mentioned  his  impression 
to  the  six  brethren  standing  with  him,  and  they 
all  agreed  to  put  off  their  design  till  morning  :  in  the 
morning  Mr.  Ayres  waited  on  the  governor ;  (William 
Burnet ;)  related  the  ease  to  him  and  solicited  protec- 
tion :  the  gorcrnor  promised  that  the  request  should  be 
granted,  and  was  as  good  as  his  word  ;  for,  at  the 
time  appointed,  he,  aceosoasiied  by  many  of  the 
gentry  of  the  city,  attended  at  tiie  water,  and  the 
ordinance  was  performed  in  peace  ;  the  governor, 
as  he  stood  by,  was  heard  to  say,  "  This  was  the 
ancient  manner  of  baptizing  ;  and  is,  in  my  opinion, 
much  preferable  to  the  practice  of  modern  times." 
These  baptized  persons  called  Mr.  Ayres  to  preach  to 
them  ;  and  in  September  172*,  they  were  constituted 
a  church,  and  he  was  ordained  their  pastor,  by 
Elders  Valentine  Whitman  of  Groton,  and  Daniel 
Whitman  of  New-Port.  Under  his  ministry,  the 
audience  so  increased,  that  a  private  house  could 
not  hold  them  :  wherefore  they  purchased  a  lot  on 
Golden  Hill,  (not  far  from  that  on  which  this  house 
stands)  and  thereon  built  a  place  for  worship,  in 
the  year  1728.  To  the  twelve  persons  already  men- 
tioned, there  were  six  added  under  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Ayres.5*  Mr.  Ayres  remained  their  pastor 
seven  years;  when  [Oct.  31,  1731]  he  resigned  the 
care  of  them,  and  removed  to  New- Port,  [R.  I.] 
where  he  died.  After  him  a  Mr.  John  Stephens 
preached  to  them  and  baptized  six  persons. f  iiut 
Mr.  Stephens  quitting  them  to  go  to  S.  Carolina, 

#  Viz :  William  Ball,  Ahasueru3  Windal,  (of  Albany,  ; 
Abigail  and  Dinah  North,  (of  New-Town,)  Martha  Walton, 
(of  Staten  Island,)  and  Richard  Slit  well,  Junr. 

f  Viz:  Robert  North,  Mary  Murphy,  Hannah  French, 
Mary  Stilwell,  and  two  others  whose  names  we  cannot  now 
ascertain. 


s 


and  their  Meeting  House  being;  claimed  and  sold  as 
private  property,  by  one  of  the  trustees,  the  Arminian 
Church,  consisting  then  of  24  members,  dissolved ; 
having  existed  about  eight  years. 

The  present  church  in  this  place,  originated  in 
the  manner  following :  About  the  year  1745,  Mr. 
Jeremiah  Dodge,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
at  Fish-Kill,  settled  in  this  city,  and  opened  a  prayer 
meeting  in  his  own  house  :  at  this  meeting  some  of 
those  who  had  been  members  of  the  former  church, 
attended,  and  occasionally  officiated ;  but  as  they 
were  Arminians  and  Mr.  Dodge  a  strict  adherent 
to  the  doctrines  of  grace,  they  enjoyed  but  little 
satisfaction  together.  Some  time  in  the  same  year 
[1745]  Elder  Benjamin  Miller,  of  the  Scotch  Plains, 
visited  the  city  (probably  at  the  invitation  of  Mr. 
Dodge)  and  baptized  Mr.  Joseph  Meeks.*  Thence- 
forward the  prayer  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Meeks  and  that  of  Mr.  Dodge  alternately  ;  and 
these  two  brethren  and  Mr.  Robert  North  (formerly  of 
the  Arminian  ehurcl •)  united  in  giving  an  invitation 
to  Mr.  John  Pine  (a  licentiate  in  the  church  at  Fish- 
Kill)  to  come  and  preach  to  them.  His  labours 
were  rendered  useful ;  partly  in  reconciling  some  of 
the  former  church  to  the  doctrines  of  grace,  and  part- 
ly, in  the  conversion  of  others. |  His  place  of  preach- 
ing appears  to  have  been,  chiefly,  the  dwelling  house 
of  Mr.  Meeks.  Tn  1750  Mr.  Pine  died  :  after  which 
they  were  visited  by  Klder  James  Carman  (of  Cran- 
berry) who  baptized  at  different  times,  until  their 

*  Mr.  Meeks  became  one  of  the  constituents  of  this 
church,  and  i  eraained  an  esteemed  and  useful  member  until 
his  death  :  he  died  Oct.  6,  1782;  aged  73  years. 

t  Among  whom  were  John  Carman  and  Nehemiah  Oaklyj 
who  were  baptised  by  Elder  Haistead,  pastor  of  the  church 
at  Fish-Kill. 


V 


number  was  increased  to  thirteen  ;  when  they  were 
advised  to  joi.s  themselves  to  the  ehureh  at  tiie 
Scotch  Plains,  so  as  to  he  considered  a  branch 
of  that  church*  and  to  have  their  pastor  (Llder 
Benjamin  Miller)  to  preach  and  administer  the 
Lord's  supper  to  them  once  a  quarter.  This  was 
effected  in  1753.  Mr.  Miller  had  visited  them  but 
a  few  times,  when  the  congregation  became  too  huge 
to  be  accommodated  in  anv  private  house?  that  was 
at  their  service,  and  therefore  they  hired,  as  the 
best  and  most  commodious  place  their  circumstances 
enabled  them  to  procure,  a  rigging  loft  in  Cart  and 
Horse  street,*  w  hich  they  fitted  up  for  public  w  orship. 
Here  they  statedly  assembled  lor  three  or  four  years  ; 
when,  this  place  being  otherw iso  disposed  of  by  the 
owner,  they  (such  of  them  as  cot:  Id  he  accommodated) 
returned  to  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Meeks 5 
where  they  continued  to  hold  their  meetings  for  about 
one  year.f  Then  they  purchased  a  part  of  (the  ground 
on  which  the  house  we  now  occupy  stands,  and 
erected  upon  it  a  small  Meeting  Rouse,  which  was 
opened  on  the  14th  of  March  17604 

*  So  called  from  a  very  noted  and  conspicuous  sign  of  a 
cart  andhcrsc  hanging  in  it :  it  is  now  called  V.  iiiian;  si.cet. 

f  Thus  far  this  history,  particularly,  hi  what  relate  Iq  the 
Arminian  church,  is  taken  from  a  manuscript  [eft  y  Lkler 
Morgan  Edwards,  (deceased,)  once  pastor  of  t lie  first  Baptist 
church  in  Philadelphia.  Henceforward  the  tacts  related  are 
collected,  principally,  from  the  records  of  the  church,  letters 
to  Associations  and  Association  minutes :  in  soiiie  instances 
from  tradition:  in  the  latter  part  many  things  ;  e  Said  from 
personal  knowledge;  and  when,  in  any  pari  of  the  history, 
other  publications  have  been  relied  on,  they  are  referred  to, 

J  The  land  now  belonging  to  this  church,  on  Golden  Hili, 
consists  of  five  lots  purchased  at  three  several  times,  viz: 
in  1759,  1772,  and  i 773  ;  containing  about  125  ft.  by  100. 
The  lots,  as  purchased,  were  conveyed  to  certain  individu- 
als to  hold  in  trust;  In  1784  the  church  was  incorporated, 
and  in  1785  the  said. lots  were  conveyed  to  the  corporatku*- 

B 


•  « 


10 


Having  ihen  a  place  for  public  worship,  and  their 
number  being  increased  to  twenty-seven,  they  soli- 
cited and  obtained  from  the  church  at  the  Scotch 
Plains,  a  letter  of  dismission,  bearing  date  the  12<h 
of  June  1762;  and  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month 
they  were  constituted  a  church,  by  the  assistance  of 
Elders  Benjamim  Miller  and  John  Gano.* 

The  doctrines  in  the  belief  and  profession  of  which 
this  church  was  constituted,  and  which  she  still 
maintains  and  professes,  are  contained  in  the  Baptist 
Confession  of  Faith,  printed  in  London,  in  the  year 
16S8.  However,  as  some  may  read  this  discourse,  who 
have  not  seen  that  Confession  of  Faith,  it  is  thought 
expedient  to  give  the  following  summary  of  the  views 
of  this  church,  on  such  subjects  as  are  chiefly  dis- 
puted.f 

The  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments, we  receive  as  given  by  inspiration  of  God»(a) 
and  as  our  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice. (b)  Ac- 
cording to  these  holy  oracles,  We  believe,  that  there 
is  one  God  ;(c)  that  there  is  not  another  $(d)  and  yet 

*  Names  of  the  constituents :  John  Carman,  Jeremiah 
Dodge,  Andrew  Thompson,  Samuel  Edmunds,  John  De- 
fray, I'lias  Bailey,  Joseph  Meeks,  William  Colegrove, 
Samuel  Dodge,  Catharine  Degray,  Mary  Stilwell,  Hannah 
Eoyter,  Hannah  French,  Mary  Morphy,  Margaret  1  odge, 
Sarah  Meeks,  Sarah  Thompson,  Jane  Caswell,  Mary  Ed- 
munds, Susanna  Myers,  Susanna  Caligan,  Ruth  Prince, 
Mary  Smith,  Elizabeth  Van  fyke,  Margaret  Simmons, 
Rachel  Wilson,  Catharine  Lennon  :  of  whom  Samuel  Ed- 
munds is  the  only  one  now  living;  he  resides  at  Hudson, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  church  at  Pleasant  Valley,  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Elder  Levi  Hall. 

f  In  preaching  the  sermon,  this  smmmary  of  doctrine  wan 
omitted. 

(a)  2.  Tim.  3.  15—17.  2.  Pet.  1.  21. 

(b)  John  5.  39.  Acts  17.  11.  1.  Pet.  4.  11.  2.  Pet.  1.  19,20. 

(c)  Deut,6.  4.  1.  Tim.  2.  5. 

(d)  Exo.  20.  3—5.    1.  Cor.  8.  6. 


11 


that  this  one  God  subsisteth  in  three  equal  persons* 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  (f)  and 
that  HE  is  perfectly  comprehended  by  none  but  him- 
self :( f  )    That  HE  alone,  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  with  all  the  creatures  they  contain  :  (g) 
That  man  was  made  upright,  and  so  able  to  keep  the 
law  under  which  he  was  placed  ;(/i)  but,  being  left 
to  the  freedom  of  his  own  will,  he  transgressed  that 
law.  and  thereby  fell  into  a  state  of  depravity  and 
condemnation  :(i)    That  the  first  man  (Adam)  was 
constituted  a  public  head  and  representative  of  all 
his  posterity  ;{k)  and  consequently  that  when  he  fell 
they  all  fell  with  him  into  the  same  condition;  (I) 
That  mankind,  in  their  fallen  state  are  totally  and 
universally  depraved  ;  (m)  and,  as  such,  have  nei- 
ther ability  nor  inclination  to  return  to  God  :(n)  That 
man,  although  he  hath  sinned  away  his  power  to 
^keep  the  law  of  God,  is,  notwithstanding,  under  ob- 
ligation to  keep  it ;  (o)  and  that  upon  pain  of  endur- 
ing its  curse  :(p)  That  God,  in  justifying  and  par- 
doning any  of  the  fallen  race  of  mankind,  has  no  res 
pect  to  any  good  works  to  be  done  by  them,  eithei 
before  or  after  regeneration  ;(</)but  alone  to  the  merits 
of  the  life  and  death  of  Christ,  which  he  (God  the 
Father)  imputes  to  them,  as  the  only  meritorious 

e)  Isai.  48. 16.  1.  John  5.  7.  Matt.  28.  19. 
/)  Job  11.  7.  Isai.  40.  28. 
(g)  Gen.  1.  1,  &2,  1.  Acts  17.  24— 26. 
fa)  Gen.  1.  17.  Ecc.  7.  29. 
ft)  Gen.  3.  6.  Ps.  14.  3.  John  3.  18. 
fa)  Rom.  5.  17. 
tl)  Rom.  5.  12,  18,  19. 
hti)  Ps.  53.  3.  Rom.  3.  10  19. 

(n)  Jer.  13.23.  John  6.  44.  Job  21. 14.  Jno.  5.  40. 
o)  Deut.  5.  7,  Luke  10.  25—27. 
p)  Gal.  3.  10. 
(7)  Ezek.  36.  31.  32.  Luke  17,  10, 


12 


eause  of  their  justification  and  pardon  :(r)  That  good 
•works,  though  they  have  no  influence  in  our  jus  ifi- 
eation  and  pardon,  are,  nevertheless  to  he  enjoin- 
ed (  )  and  observed  as  useful,  both  before  and  after 
conversion  ;(  )  before  conversion  they  are  useful  as  to 
ourselves  and  families,  so  to  civil  society  in  com- 
mo  i  ;(u)  and  after  conversion  they  are  useful,  not 
only  for  the  same  reasons,  but  also  as  they  are  essen- 
tial to  manifest  both  to  ourselves  and  others,  that 
our  faith  is  genuine, (w)  and  especially  to  shew  forth 
the  H'aises  of  nim  w  ho  hath  called  us  out  of  darkness 
into  his  marvellous  light  :(a?)  That  the  gospel,  which 
reveals  the  divine  purpose,  and  method  to  save  sin- 
ners,(t/)  through  the  incarnation,  obedience  and  sac- 
riti  e  of  Cfrrist,(#)  the  second  person  in  the  eternal 
Godhead,  is  to  be  published  to  mankind  in  com- 
mon ;(a)  but  that  regeneration*  faith  in  L'hrist,  and 
repentance  for  sin,  which  are  essential  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  God, (.6)  and  the  performance  of  his  ac<  ept- 
abiie  (  )  service  ;  as  also  perseverance  in  grace  to 
glory,  vvtiich  is  certain  of  all  the  regenerate^  )  are 
given  only  through  the  irresistible  (  )  operations  of 

(r)  fsai.  43.  25.  Jer.  23.  6.  Rom.  3.  21—28.  &4.  3— 6, 
25,  &  5>  19,  21.    Acts  13,  30. 

h)  Ezek.  2.  3—5.  Uai.  1.  16,  17.  2.  Cor.  5,  11. 

(t)  I.  Tim.  4.  8.  &  5.  31.  Prov.  23-  20—22. 

(w)  Prov,  27.  2.  &  28.  4.  Lcc.  9.  17,  18. 

(w)  Matt.  7.  16.  2.  Cor.  5.  17.  1.  John.  3.  8,  10,  14, 
James.  2.  10. 

(a)  Matt.  5.  13—16.  I.  Cor.  6.  20.  Eph.  2.  10.  Titus  2, 
14.  &  3.  8.  1.  Pet.  1.  2.  9. 
(y)  2.  Tim.  1.  10. 

\s)  Gen.  3.  15.  isai.  7.  14.  Matt.  1.  21.  &  5.  17.  l.Pet. 
3.  18. 

(a)  Matt.  28.  19.  Mark  16.  15.  Luke  24.  47. 

(b)  John  3.  3.  1.  Pet.  1.  8.  Luke  13.  3. 

(c)  Rom.  8.  8.  Heb.  11.  6. 

U)  Rom.  8.  17,  30.  Jno.  10.  28,  29. 
(r)  Jno.  3.  8.  2,  Cor,  4.  0.  Acts  11.  18.  Eph.  2.  8. 
S.  3L 


13 


the  Holy  Ghost,  the  third  person  in  the  adorable 
Trinity,  and  thai  they  are  given  by  G-;d  the  Father, 
according  to  bis  personal  and  eternal  election  of  his 
people  in  Christ  :(fj  That  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
supper  arc  ordinances  peculiar  to  the  gospel  dispen- 
se < ion, (g)  and  are  to  be  observed  till  the  second 
coming  of  Cbrist  — That  those  only  who  give 
scriptural  evidence  of  faith  in  Cbrist,  are  to  be  bap- 
tized,^*) received  into  the  visible  church,(fe)  and 
admitted  to  the  Lord's  table  — That  nothing  is  a 
scriptural  administration  of  the  gospel  ordinance  of 
baptism  but  the  total  immersion  (in)  of  the  subject 
in  water,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  by  a 
man  duly  authorized  to  administer  ordinances  :(n) — 
That  the  only  officers  belon ^ing  to  a  gospel  church 
are  bishops  and  deacons ;(  )  and  that  every  gospel 
church,  regularly  constituted,  has  the  power  of  self- 
government,  being  bound  only  by  the  word  of  God  :(jp) 

(f)  Psal.  110.  3:  John  6.  37.  39:  Rom.  8.  29:  Acts 
13.  48;  Eph.  1.  3—14  :  1.  Thess.  5.  9  :  2.  Tim.  1.9:  Titus 
3.  5. 

(g)  Luke  16.  16:  Matt.  3.  1—17:  &  23.  19:  &  26.  26 
—28. 

(/<)  Matt.  28.  20:  1.  Cor.  11.  26. 

(i)  Matt.  28.  19:  Mark  16.  10:  Acts  8.  12,  37. 

(k)  2.  Cor.  6.  14—18. 

(I)  Acts  2.  41,  42:  1.  Cor.  11.  28,  29. 

(m)  This  only  answers  to  the  primary  meaning  of  the 
word  baptize,  the  word  by  which,  in  our  language,  the  act  in 
question  is  sigttfled;  and  to  a  burial,  the  figure  by  which  this 
act  is  set  forth  :  Rom.  6.  4.  See  the  example  of  Christ,  Mark 
1.  9.  and  the  baptism  of  the  eunuch,  Acts  38,  39. 

(n)  Matt.  28.  19, 

(n)  Philip  1,  1  :  Bishops,  or  overseers,  are  pastors  and 
elders,  Act  20.  17,  28. 

(/>)  If  the  power  of  ecclesiastical  government  be  not  iu 
the  church,  where  is  it?  c  ertainly  not  in  the  world,  Jno. 
18.  36:  nor  in  pastors,  1.  Pet.  5.  3:  nor  in  associations;' 
for  much  soever  as  may  be  said  in  favour  of  their  expedi- 


1* 


—And,  finally,  that  there  will  be  a  resurrection 
both  of  the  just  and  unjust,(g)  a  general  judgment, (r) 
and  an  eternal  separation  between  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked ;  the  latter  being  banished  to  ever- 
lasting misery  and  the  former  being  received  into 
everlasting  happiness. (s) 

Having  noticed  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the 
constitution  of  this  church,  and  given  a  summary  of 
its  articles  of  faith,  I  proceed  to  notice 

II.  The  circumstances  which  have  marked  its 
progress.  These  have  been  numerous  and  various, 
prosperous  and  adverse. 

After  the  solemnities  of  the  constitution,  on  the 
same  day,  two  deacons  *  were  elected  and  a  clerk 

ency,no  such  bodies  are  recognizedin  Scripture.  Thechurches,. 
indeed,  for  the  solutio  1  oi  a  difficulty,  sent  up  to  Jerusalem* 
to  the  apostles,  Acts  15.  1.  2;  and  churches  now  may, 
in  effect,  do  the  the  same ;  the  authority  of  the  apostles,  in 
their  written  decisions  being  still  in  full  force  :  see  Matt. 
28.  20.  compared  with  Matt.  19.  28.  and  Luke  22.  30.  More- 
over an  apostle  exhorts  churches  to  govern  :  see  Rom.  14. 
J,  and  1.  Cor.  5.  12,  13. 

(q(  John  5.  28,  29 :  Acts  20.  8  :  1.  Cor.  15.  22,  23. 

(r)  Acts  17.  31  :  2.  Cor.  5.  10. 

(s)  Luke  16.  26:  Matt.  25.  32—46. 

*  John  Carman,  [deceased,]  and  Samuel  Edmunds,  [dis- 
missed.] 

Those  elected  deacons  of  this  church  at  several  times 
since  :  elected  at  dates  not  ascertained ;  Samuel  Dodge, 
[deceased,]  Andrew  Thompson, [deceased,]andWilliam  Law- 
son,  [resigned;  still  a  worthy  member  of  the  church.]  Elect- 
ed at  the  dates  following:  Feb.  27,  1787,  Thomas  Sloo, 
and  Thomas  Longly  :  (both  dismissed ;  they  removed  to 
Kentucky.)  April  29,  1788,  Jonathan  Conrey,  (declined  ac- 
cepting the  office ;  deceased ;)  and  Abraham  Cannon,  (de- 
ceased.) May  the  6th,  1 788, William  Thompson,(dismissed,) 
and  William  Norris,  (excluded.)  vov.  2, 1790,  John  Bedient. 
Jan.  17,  1801.  Eliakim  Ford,  (dismissed  to  the  church  at 
Stamford.)  Sept.  12,  1806,  /ames  Duffle,  Samuel  F.  Ran- 
dolph, William  Willess,  and  Thomas  Hanes  :(the  last  named 
resigned,  and  has  since  been  excluded.)  Oct.  4,  1808; 


15 

*  to  minute  and  record  the  proceedings  of  the  church. 
On  the  same  day,  likewise,  JLlder  John  iiano,  (be- 
fore mentioned  as  one  of  the  officiating  ministers  at 
the  constitution,)  having  presented  a  letter  ccrtifj  ing 
his  regular  dismission  from  a  Baptist  church  at  the 
Yadkin,  N.  Carolina,  and  being  thereupon  received  as 
a  member,  was,  unanimously  ^  called  to  take  upon 
him  the  pastoral  charge  of  this  church.  The  gift 
of  a  pastor,  especially  of  such  a  pastor,  at  the  very 
time  of  the  constitution,  was  a  favour  which  laid 
the  church  under  more  than  common  obligations,  to 
the  great  "  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls.'*  As  a 
man,  Mr.  Gano  was  then  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 
as  a  preacher,  his  **  praise  was  in  all  the  churci.es.'' j 

Peter  Conrey  and  John  Tiebout;  Leonard  Bleecker,  (ex- 
cluded,) and  William  Mc.  Intosh  (resigned ;  since  excluded.) 
Feb.  6,  1808,  Rosewell  Graves,  and  Nicholas  B.  Lyon. 

Present  deacons :  John  Bedient,  James  Uuffie,  Samuel 
F.  Randolph,  William  Willess,  Peter  Conrey,  John  Tie- 
bout,  Rosewell  Graves,  and  Nicholas  B.  Lyon. 

*  Samuel  Dodge.  He  remained  clerk,  notwithstanding 
his  after  election  as  a  deacon,  till  May  28,  1804,  when 
he  resigned,  on  account  oi'  being  about  to  remove  to  Peugh- 
keepsie,  where  he  died  Oct.  4,  1807;  aged  77  years,  b 
months  and  25  days.  He  whs  an  unblemished  member  of 
the  church  from  the  constitution  till  his  death;  and  roth  a 
deacon  and  the  clerk  of  the  church  for  upwards  of  40  years. 
When  he  resigned  as  clerk,  deacon  ohn  Bedient  was  chosen 
in  his  stead,  who  remained  in  the  office  till  July  4,  1809; 
w  hen  he  resigned  and  deacon  Rosewell  Graves,  was  chosen, 
who  is  now  clerk  of  this  church. 

f  Mr.  Gano  (of  French  descent)  was  born  at  Hopewell, 
New- jersey,  July  22d,  1727  :  he  was  called  to  the  ministry 
in  Hopewell  church,  and  there  ordained,  May  29th,  1754: 
his  ordination  sermon  (preached  by  Mr.  Isaac  Eaton,  A.  M.) 
was  printed:  from  Hopewell  he  removed  to  Morris-Town 
where  he  tarried  about  two  years  :  from  thence  he  removed 
to  the  Yadkin,  N.  Carolina,  where  he  was  instrumental  in 
raising  a  pretty  large  church,  which  was  broken  up  in  the 
war  of  1756,  and  he  and  his  family  were  obliged  to  flv  for 
their  lives  from  the  ravages  of  the  Indians.  MS.  left  by 
Elder  Morgan  Edwards. 


16 


His  labours  saon  attracted  public  notice,  and  occa- 
sioned such  an  increase  of  hearers,  as  rendered  it 
necessary  for  the  church  to  enlarge  their  Meeting 
House ;  and  which  they  did  in  1763.  The  exact 
dimensions  of  the  house  when  first  built,  I  have  not 
learned  ;  but  as  enlarged  it  measured  52  ft.  by  42  ; 
and  which  was  generally  well  filled,  and  often  too 
small.  J\or  were  the  people  hearers  of  the  word 
only;  for  it  was  the  pleasure  of  God  so  to  attend 
his  own  truth,  as  delivered  by  his  servant,  that 
many  were  turned  to  the  Lord  and  added  to  the 
church. 

On  the  11  th  of  Oct.  1763,  this  church,  consisting 
then  of  41  members,  and  being  in  a  peaceable  and 
flourishing  condition,  was  received  into  the  Phila- 
delphia Association.      It  would    afford  me  great 

*  Of  which  she  remained  a  member  till  Oct.  1790;  wheu 
she  took  a  dismission  from  that  vener  b!e  body,  with  a  view 
of  uniting  with  other  churches  in  an  association  in  this  city. 
This  church,  accordingly,  sent  a  eircucu'ar  letter  to  neigh- 
bouring churches,  soliciting  them  to  meet  in  v  ew-\  ork,  by 
representation,  on  Tuesday  the  12th  of  \  following, 
to  deliberate  on  forming  an  association.  r:.  he  ministers  and 
other  messengers  of  seven  cu.-ches,  viz:  the  church  at  the 
Scotch  Plains,  the  church  at  Oiist-r-Bay,  (L.  1.)  the  church 
at  Morris-Town,  (N.  Jersey,)  the  chinch  at  Cor.nc^-Brock, 
(now  Northfield,)  the  church  on  Stat  n-l~hn<l,  and  fhejfSnsf 
and  second  churches  in  New-York  ;  the  latter  of  which  is 
now  called  Bcilid,  met  on  the  day  a  pointed;  when  a  njag 
for  an  association,  previously  drawn  un,  was  laid  before 
them;  which  they  adopted,    md  ordered  to  be  l  with 

the  minutes  of  their  proceedings,  and circulated  forth?:  con- 
sideration of  other  churches.  They  adjourned  to  Oct.  19th, 
1791  ;  when  the  said  7  churches  aga'n  met  by  their  de  e.gates, 
and  formally  united  under  the  n  me  of  the  new-york  bap- 
tist association.  The  first  meeting  of  this  association 
was  held  Oct.  31  st,  1792,  when  5  other  churches,  viz: 
Piscatawaij,  Lyon's  Fanw,  Mount  Bethel-,  Potohog,  and  Sag 
Harbour,  Ve-e  added.  [The  nrst  church  in  Vew-York 
then  consisted  of  200  members-]  The  association  then  ad- 
journed to  meet  on  the  last  Wednesday  but  oue  in  iiiay. 


ir 


pleasure  could  I  proceed  in  the  history  of  this  branch, 
of  Zion,  especially  at  so  early  a  period  of  its  existence, 
without  having  to  relate  some  disagreeable,  as  weH  as 
agreeable  occurrences  ;  but  I  cannot ;  nor  should  it 
be  expected  :  for  Satan,  as  he  is  a  stranger  to  peace 
himself,  so,  as  far  as  permitted,  he  is  ever  exerting 
his  influence  to  banish  that  blessing  from  the  bosoms 
and  societies  of  God's  people.  Alas  !  that  he  should 
so  often  succeed  !  especially  that  he  should  succeed  by 
means  of  professors  themselves  !  and  even  by  men 
professing  to  be  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  pe  ce  ! ! 
By  means  of  such  men,  however,  he  succeeded  to  the 
great  disturbance  of  this  church  ;  as  appears  by  cer- 
tain circumstances  recorded  by  Elder  Ga  10.  Dur- 
"  ing  my  residence  in  this  place,"  saith  he,  (speaking 
of  j\e\v-York.)  «  the  church  were  in  love  and  harmo- 
«  ny,  except  a  few  difficulties  that  look  place,  by  the 
"  arrival  of  two  or  three  preac hers  from  England.*** 
These  men,  as  appears  from  his  account  of  them, each 
in  turn,  aimed  to  divide  this  church;  and  although  they 
failed  of  accomplishing  (heir  object,  they,  neverthe- 
less, occasioned  much  trouble  in  the  attempt. 

Soon  after,  the  church  was  considerably  agitated  by 
a  difference  of  opinion  about  the  management  of 
psalmody. f  it  had  been  the  usage  of  the  church  to 
have  the  lines  parcelled  out ;  but  a  large  majority 
becoming  in  favour  of  singing  from  books,  a«  we  now 
do,  a  resolution  was  past  to  adopt  this  mode;  where- 
upon the  minority,  consisting  of  1*4  took  dismis- 

1793,  which  has  been  the  time  of  its  annual  meeting  eveiv 
since. 

#  The  men  of  whom  Mr.  Gario  speaks,  were  John  Murray, 

 Dawson,  and  John  Allen.    Life  of  Gano  written  by 

himself.    Page  88. 

f  ibid,  page  90. 

j  Viz :  Jeremiah  Dodge  and  Margaret  his  wife;  Francis 
Aran  Dyke  and  Elisabeth  his  wife;  Joseph  Fox;  Adam 

G 


18 


sions,  and,  Laving  obtained  the  approbation  of  the 
church  they  had  left,  on  June  5th.  1790,  they  were 
constituted  under  the  name  of  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  in  New-York,  by    lders  Miller  and  Gano.* 

Notwithstanding  these  and  some  other  uupleasant 
circumstances,  this  church  continued  to  be  comfort- 
ed and  increased  under  the  administration  of  the 
word,  until  the  revolutionary  ivar;  during  which 
Elder  Gano  was  a  ehaplin  in  the  army,  the  church 
in  a  dispersed  condition,  and  its  records  suspended. 
The  last  time  Mr.  Gano  administered  baptism  be- 
fore he  went  into  the  army,  was  on  April  28, 
1776,f  and  the  first  time  after  his  return,  was  on 
Sept.  4th,  17Si.+ 

Were  I  disposed  to  attempt  a  description  of  this 
city  and  its  inhabitants,  at  the  time  the  army  was 
disbanded,  I  would  invite  your  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject in  these  words  of  the  Psalmist:  "Come,  be- 
hold the  w  orks  of  the  Lord,  w  hat  desolations  he  hath 
made  in  the  earth  but  I  forbear  ;  and  confine  my- 
self to  the  church.  Of  this  Mr.  Gano  expresses 
himself  thus  :  "We  collected  of  our  church  about 
37  members  out  of  upwards  of  200;  some  being  dead 

Todd;  Nicholas  A ndresea;  Nathaniel  Tylee  and  Hannah 
his  wife  ;  Phehe  Moss  ;  Elizabeth  White  ;  Hannah  Burdge  : 
And  Ytilien  ;  Ann  Angevine. 

*  The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Elder  John  Dodge, 
a  native  of  Long  Island.  I  e  was  born  Febr.  22d,  1738. 
and  was  bred  to  physic;  He  became  a  Baptist  in  Baltimore, 
under  the  ministry  of  Elder  .iohn  Davis.  From  thence  he 
came  to  New- York,  and  joined  the  2d  church,  where  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  Jan.  14th,  1771.  As  there  is  now 
no  Baptist  church  in  New-York  distinguished  as  the  second 
the  reader  will  naturally  inquire  what  has  become  of  it  ? 
For  an  answer  he  is  referred  to  the  note  on  p.  24. 

f  The  subject  was  Hannah  Stilwell. 

\  The  subjects  were  Tohn  Bedient,  now  a  deaeon  of  the 
church]  and  Samuel  Jones. 


19 


and  others  scattered  into  almost  every  part  of  the 
Union.* 

The  meeting  house  also  of  this  church,  in  com- 
mon w  ith  other  houses  of  worship  in  the  city*  had 
sustained  great  injuf^f  The  church,  however,  soon 
had  it  repaired;  at  least  so  as  to  be  occupied  ;  when 
Mr.  Gano,  wiio  is  said  to  have  been  remarkable  for 
self  cting  subjects  suited  to  special  occasions,  preach- 
ed a  very  appropriate  sermon  from  these  words : 
«f  Who  is  left  among  you  that  saw  this  house  in  her 
first  glory?  and  how  do  you  see  it  now  ?  is  it  not  in 
your  eyes  in  comparison  of  it  as  nothing  V9  Bag. 
2,  3. 

The  church,  thus  happily  restored  to  her  public 
privileges,  was.  in  a  short  time,  raised  to  a  more 
flourishing  condition,  than  she  had  ever  enjoyed  be- 
fore :  most  of  the  members  who  ha;'  been  scattered 
abroad,  were,  in  the  course  of  Providence,  brought 
back  to  the  city  and  (o  the  ehurch  ;  and  the  circum- 
stance of  so  long  a  separation,  and  a  review  of  the 
toils,  the  dangers  and  the  privations  sustained  during 
the  w  ar,  made  the  blessings  of  peace  and  of  christian 
so'  iety,  peculiarly  valuable  and  pleasant :  every 
heart  glow  ed  w  ith  gratitude, — every  countenance  ex- 
pressed sa<i>faction  and  pleasure, — and  every  meeting 
was  a  solemn,  thankful,  and  joyful  assembly.  The 
congregation  also  was  greatly  increased;  and,  to 
crown  all,  the  word  preached  was  accompanied  with 
i(  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  hea- 
ven so  that  frequent  and  pretty  numerous  addi- 
tions were  made  to  the  church  of  such  whose  after 
conduct  gave  reason  to  believe  that  they  44  knew  the 
grace  of  God  in  truth." 

*  Life  of  Gano,  written  by  himself:  p.  116,  117. 

f  Having  -een  used  as  a  horse  sta l>le. 

X  The  letter  from  this  church  to  (he  Association  at  Phils- 


20 


Now,  however,  in  the  midst  of  prosperity,  an 
event  occurred,  which  greatly  afflicted  this  church 
and  society  ;  viz  :  the  removal  of  their  beloved  pus- 
tor.  At  a  meeting  of  business,  on  the  evening  of 
Sept.  SO,  1787,  Flder  Gano  informed  the  church 
that  he  had  had  it  in  contemplation  for  some 
months  past  to  remove  to  Kentucky,  and  that  he  had 
finally  concluded  upon  leaving  them  the  ensuing 
spring.  The  church,  exceedingly  unwilling  to  be 
deprived  of  his  faithful  services,  strove  hard  to  re- 
tain him  ;  but  without  success.  On  the  evening  of 
April  *22d,  1788,  he  and  eight  others,  who  were  go- 
ing with  him,  took  dismissions  from  the  church. 
The  last  time  Elder  Gano  administered  baptism,  as 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  was  on  Saturday,  April 
5th,  1/88.  On  the  afternoon  of  Lord's  day,  the  4th 
of  May  following,  he  administered  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  took  his  final 
leave  of  the  church  and  congregation,  by  preaching 
an  affectionate  and  very  affecting  sermon  from  these 
words : — Fare  yt  well  I  Acts  15.  29.  On  the  next 
day  he  took  his  departure  with  his  family  from  the 
city,  bound  for  Kentucky  ;  and  landed  safely  at  Lime- 
stone, on  the  17th  of  June  following.* 

The  church  was  then  dependant  on  supplies  ;  such 
as  a  committee,  appointed  for  that  purpose,  could 
procure.    One  of  the  supplies  procured,  was  Mr. 

delphia,  in  1785,  states  that,  during  the  preceding  year,  52 
persons  had  beeen  received ;  one  by  letter  from  Hopewell, 
one  baptized  in  Connecticut,  and  fifty  baptized  in  this  city.. 
The  letters  to  the  same  body  in  178b  and  87,  state,  the  for- 
mer an  addition  of  41,  and  the  latter  an  addition  of  29  bap- 
tized. 

*  Mr.  Gano  was  the  pastor  of  this  church  about  26  years. 
Touring  his  ministry  the  church  had  297  baptized  and  23  re-v 
ibeived  by  letter. 


21 


(afterward  Dr.)  Benjamin  Foster,*  who  was  then 
pastor  of  a  Baptist  church  at  New-Port  ( li.  I.) 
"With  i j i  111  the  church  and  society,  generally,  were 
pleased  ;  and  it  appeared  likely  that,  under  his  minis- 
try, they  would  be  happily  united.  Under  ibis  re- 
pression, on  the  evening  of  the  ioth  of  July,  1788,  the 
church,  being  assembled  to  deliberate  on  the  subject, 

*  Mr.  Foster  was  born  at  Dangers,  Essex  county  (Mass.) 
June  12th  1750;  and  agreeably  to  the  custom  of  that  state, 
received  the  rudiments  of  learning  at  the  town  school.  He 
professed  to  have  had  serious  impressions  a:  out  eternal 
things  very  early  in  life,  but  not  to  have  been  brought  into  the 
liberty  of  God's  children  until  about  20  years  of  age.  it 
the  age  of  18,  he  entered  Yale  College,  in  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, then  under  the  direction  of  the  learned  and  pious 
Dr.  Dagget.  t  -is  parents  were  respectable  members  of  the 
congregational  church,  and  he  had  been  brought  up  with 
strong  and  consciencious  prejudices  in  favour  of  the  senti- 
ments of  that  denomination.  From  these  prejudices  he  was 
delivered  in  the  following  manner:  while  he  was  at  college 
several  polemic  tracts  on  the  subjects  and  mode  of  baptism 
made  their  appearance  :  the  matter  of  them  occasioned  so 
much  agitation  and  private  debates  among  the  students,  thai 
at  length  the  question  on  the  proper  subjects  and  mode  of 
that  ordinance,  was  fixed  on  as  a  subject  of  public  discus- 
sion. Mr  Foster  was  appointed  to  defend  infant  sprinkling. 
To  prepare  himself  for  the  dispute  he  used  the  utmost  ex- 
ertion :  he  endeavoured  to  view  \v,e  question  in  every  liirlit 
in  which  he  could  possibly  place  it :  he  carefully  searched 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  examined  the  history  of  the  church 
from  the  apostles' times.  The  result,  however,  was  very 
different  from  what  had  been  expected;  for  when  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  discussion  arrived, he  wasso  tar  from  being  prepared 
to  defend  infant  sprinkling,  that,  to  the  great  astonishment 
of  the  officers  of  the  college,  he  avowed  himself  a  decided 
convert  to  the  doctrine  that  only  those  who  profess  faith  in 
Christ  are  the  subjects,  and  that  immersion  only  is  the  mode 
of  christian  baptism  ;  and  of  which  he  continued,  ever  after, 
a  steady,  zealous  and  powerful  advocate.  He  graduated 
about  the  year  1772.  Soon  after,  he  was  baptized  and  re- 
ceived a  member  of  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Boston,  then 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  iff.  Samuel  Stillman,  under  whom 


22 


appointed  a  eommitte  *  to  have  a  speeial  conference 
with  him  on  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  and  fhccir- 
cumstanees  or*  his  reiation  to  the  church  at  New-Port: 
and,  if  no  obstacle  appeared,  to  present  him  a  call, 
in  the  name  of  the  church,  to  berome  their  pastor. 
Mr.  Foster  being  then  in  the  city,  the  committee 
saw  him  the  next  day  ;  and,  being  satisfied,  by  a 
conversation  with  him,  that  nothing  existed  to  ren- 
der the  measure  improper,  they  presented  to  him  the 
call  of  the  church.  He  told  them  that  the  main, 
question  he  could  not  immediately  answer ;  hut  that 
he  would  answer  it  in  writing,  as  soon  as  he  could  feel 
decided  in  his  own  mind.  On  the  15th  of  September 
following,  the  committee  received  a  letter  from  him, 
informing  them  that  he  had  accepted  the  call  of  the 

also  he  studied  divinity.  He  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Leicester  (Massachusetts) 
where  he  continued  several  years,  and  then  removed  to 
New-Port  (R.  1.)  whence  he  was  called  by  this  church.  In 
the  year  1792,  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  on  him 
by  the  college  of  Rhode-Island,  in  consequence  of  a  learned 
publication  of  his  entitled,  "  A  Dissertation  on  the  70  weeks 
*'  of  Daniel,"  &c.  Dr.  Foster  was  considered  as,  in  gene- 
ral, a  learned  man,  but  as  excelling,  chiefly,  in  the  oriental 
languages. 

The  following  inscription  upon  a  handsome  marble  is 
placed  over  his  grave  in  the  burying  ground  of  this  church  : 
**  As  a  scholar  and  divine  he  excelled ;  as  a  preacher  he 
"  was  eminent:  as  a  christian  he  shone  conspicuously.  In 
"  his  ;iety  he  was  fervent:  The  church  was  comforted  by 
"  his  life ;  and  now  laments  his  death." 

This  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  Foster  is,  as  to  sub- 
stance, extracted  from  Bardie's  Biographical  Dictionary, 
published  New-York,  1801. 

'  Of  13.  viz.  Samuel  Dodge,  Benjamin  Montanye, 
Ezekiel  Bobbins,  William  Norris,  William  Thompson, 
John  Bedient.  Jonathan  Conrey,  John  Duffie,  Abraham  Can- 


23 

church ;  and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  Ire 
arrived  with  uis  family  in  the  cityv* 

Dr.  Foster's  ministry  here,  though  not  long,  and 
though  generally  acceptable,  was,  nevertheless,  at- 
tended with  some  considerable  trials,  both  to  him- 
self and  the  church.  He  had  preached  here  but  a 
few  months,  when  certain  members  of  the  church 
professed  to  discover  in  his  sermons,  some  traits  of 
what  was  then  called  New  Divinity.  What  the  senti- 
ments objected  to  in  the  Dr's.  sermons  were,  and 
whether  orthodox  or  heterodox,  I  shall  not  -attempt 
to  decide  ;  having  never  heard  him  preach,  nor  read 
any  tiling  written  by  him  on  doctrinal  subjects. 
The  difficulty,  however,  continued  and  increased 
until  it  became,  necessarily,  a  subject  of  consider- 
ation and  discipline  in  the  church  :  and,  after  much 
forbearance  and  labour,  on  the  evening  of  January 
27,  1789,  thirteen  persons  were  excluded.f 

non,  Zebulon  Barton,  William  Dure!!,  Hugh  Montgomery- 
Thomas  Garniss. 

*  On  the  day  of  their  arrival  here,  Mr.  Foster 
and  his  wife  Were  both  inoculated  with  the  small  ;  ox; 
which  delayed  his  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  until 
the  2d  of  December  following ;  when  he  and  his  wife,  upon 
satisfactory  letters  of  dismission,  were  received  as  mem- 
bers of  this  church,  and  he  took  upon  him  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  same. 

f  It  is  with  extreme  reluctance  that  any  notice  i> 
taken  of  this  antiquated  affair;  but  as  the  nature  of  the 
discourse  rendered  such  notice  inevitable,  it  is  thought 
a  duty  to  all  concerned,  to  make  the  following  obser- 
vations. The  said  13  persons  were  not  considered  a^ 
censurable  for  opposing  what  they  thought  to  be  error,  nor, 
having  failed  of  effecting  a  change,  for  seeking  to  be  sepa- 
rated, in  some  proper  manner  from  the  church;  but  for  the 
temper  discovered  and  the  means  employed ;  also  for  not 
taking  measures  to  be  reconciled  to  their  brethren,  after  be- 
ing put  away.  To  this  latter  fault  it  is  supposed  they  were 
tempted,  by  a  readiness  discovered  in  the  2d  church  to  re-- 


Others  remained  restless  and  occasioned  much  dis^ 
turhance  in  the  church,  until,  after  many  meetings 
and  endeavours,  without  success,  to  effect  a  recon- 
ciliation, on  the  2lst  of  January  1790,  it  was  re- 
solved that  all  dissatisfied  under  the  ministry  of  Dr. 
Foster  should  have  liberty  (notwithstanding  the  im* 
proper  temper  which  many  of  them  had  manifested 
during  the  discussion)  to  take  letters  of  dismission, 
either  to  join  the  other  Baptist  church  in  the  city,  or 
to  become  a  new  church,  as  they  might  prefer  j 
whereupon  20  persons  took  di&missions.* 

ceive  them  :  for  that  church,  being  then,  (as  is  said,)  chie^y 
under  the  control  of  one  man,  (Francis  V  an  i>yke,)  in- 
stead of  saying,  "  go  be  reconciled"  to  your  brethren,  re- 
ceived them  as  in  good  standing.  This  occasioned  a  diffi- 
culty between  the  two  churches;  which,  however,  was  set- 
tled in  May  1790.  The  mischief  arising  from  churches  re- 
ceiving persons  excluded  from  other  churches  of  the  same 
denomination,  is  incalculable.  Extraordinary  cases,  never- 
theless, may  occur,  in  which  it  may  be  expedient  for 
churches  to  receive  such  persons ;  particularly,  when  the 
church  which  had  excluded  a  person,  shall  have  dissolved; 
in  which  case,  the  person,  however  penitent,  can  have  no 
opportunity  of  being  reconciled  and  restored  to  the  church 
that  had  excluded  him. 

*  Of  these,  two  returned,  and  1 8  joined  the  2d  church. 
Soon  after  receiving  these  and  the  13  mentioned  before,  [p.  23.] 
that  church  fell  into  a  state  of  contention,  and  some  time  in 
the  year  1790,  divided ;  each  branch  claiming  the  distinction 
of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  New-}  crk  :  after  contending 
this  claim,  for  a  conirk-erai  *e  time,  thc\  were  both  prei .  il- 
ed  on  to  relinquish  it ;  the  branch  that  remained  assuming 
the  distinction  of  flu  Bethel  Baptist  Church,  represented  on 
the  minutes  of  the  ew-York  Baptist  Association,  as  consti- 
tuted in  the  year  1770,  and  which  is  now  u.ider  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  Elder  Daniel  Hall ;  and  the  other,  represented 
o<;  the  minutes  of  the  same  association  as  constituted  in  the 
ye  tr  1791,  assumed  the  distinction  of  the  Baptist  Church  in 
F  tti  street,  which  is  now  under  the  -pastoral  care  of  Elder 
John  Williams.   See  page  17, 18.    In  May  'ast  the  messen- 


25 


This  difficulty  being  terminated,  the  church  ap- 
pears to  have  enjoyed  much  harmony,  and  to  have 
had  no  special  cause  of  tribulation,  throughout  the 
remaining  part  of  Dr.  Foster's  life  ;  which  ended  on 
Lord's  day  morning,  August  20th,  1798.  He  died  of 
the  yellow  fever,  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age  ;  having 
been  about  22  years  an  ordained  minister,  and  nine 
years  and  about  nine  months  the  pastor  of  this 
church.* 

Now  again  the  church  was  dependant  on  supplies  ; 
andon  the  eveningof  September  27,1798,  it  was  agreed 
that  Mr.  William  Collier,  then  a  member  and  licen- 
tiate in  the  2d  Baptist  Church  in  Boston,  be  invited 
to  serve  as  a  supply  until  the  first  of  May  following  ; 
which  invitation  he  accepted.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  Mr.  Collier  was  invited  to  continue  six 
months  longer,  but  declined,  on  account  of  ill  health. 
Now  for  about  one  year,  the  church  was  supplied, 
only  in  a  desultory  manner,  by  neighbouring  and 
travelling  ministers  ;  when  Mr.  Collier,  who,  in  the 
mean  time  had  been  ordained,  was  invited  to  officiate 

gers  from  the  church  in  Fayette  street,  and  those  of  three 
others,  viz.  that  in  Mulberry  street,  [N.  Y.]  that  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  and  that  at  Poughkee.>sie,  took  dismissions  for 
their  respective  churches  from  the  New-York  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, because  they  could  not  prevail  on  jthat  body  to  de- 
prive the  first  church  of  a  right  which  every  independent 
church  habitually  exercises;  namely, the  right  of  investigating 
and  deciding  on  charges  brought  against  one  oi  her  own' 
members — her  pastor.  Whether  the  said  messengers  had 
authority  from  their  churches,  to  do  so,  is  yet  to  be 
known. 

*  Dr.  Foster,  notwithstanding  the  difference  of  opinion 
which  existed  respecting  his  sentiments,  and  the  difficulties 
hence  arising*  was  highly  respected  by  his  literary  and  re- 
ligious acquaintance,  both  as  a  scholar  and  a  preacher;  and 
although  no  remarkable  revival  took  place  under  his  ministry 
in  this  city,  yet  there  was  a  gradual  addition  to  the  church 
almost  everv  year  he  was  pastor.    He  baptized  in  1789 

D 


2d 

as- pastor,  for  at  least  one  year.  He  accepted  the 
invitation  and  arrived  here  on  the  14th  of  October^ 
1800. 

Some  time  in  the  following  winter,  the  corporation 
of  the  church,  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  church, 
came  to  a  resolution  to  build  a  new  meeting  house, 
the  old  one  having  become  so  much  decayed  that  it 
was  judged  to  be  unsafe  any  longer  to  occupy  it.  The 
old  house  was  taken  down  in  March  1801,  and  the 
new  one  opened  on  Lord's  day  the  2d  of  May,  1802  ; 
on  which  occasion,  after  prayer  by  the  pastor,  Mr. 
Collier,  an  appropriate  discourse,  from  Exo.  20,  24, 
was  delivered  by  Dr.  Stephen  Gano,  of  Providence.^ 

Mr.  Collier,  by  repeated  agreements  between  him 
and  the  church,  continued  to  officiate  as  pastor  for 
more  than  three  years,  During  this  time,  however, 
the  church,  observing  the  duties  of  his  situation  to 
exceed  his  strength,  resolved,  that  it  was  expedient 
to  procure  some  young  man  as  a  co-pastor :  and 
accordingly  procured  Mr.  Jeremiah  Chaplin.^  H'e 
arrived  here  Jan.  10,  1804  ;  but  previous  to  his  arri- 
val, Mr.  Collier  had  received  and  accepted  a  call 

—19:  in  1790—22;  hv  1791—9;  in  1792—9;  in  1793 
—7;  in  1794—7  ;  in  1795—12;  in  17SM3— 6;  in  1797— 1  ; 
in  1793 — 18.  The  aggregate  increase  of  the  church  in  his 
time  was,  to  be  sure,  small ;  but  this  was  owing  to  dismissi- 
ons, exclusions  ami  deaths.  The  church,  when  he  became 
pastor,  consisted  of  194  members,  and  when  he  died,  of.  225. 

*  While  the  new  house  was  building,  the  church  and  con- 
gregation were  favoured  with  the  use  of  what  is  called  the 
Wrench  Cluirch  in  Piue  street,  to  meet  in  for  worship. 

The  foundation  of  this  house,  without  any  ceremony,  was 
begun  about  the  1st  of  April  1801,  and  the  whole  building 
waf  completed  within  a  little  more  than  one  year.  It  mea- 
sures 80  feet,  by  05.  It  cost,  including  its  furniture,  about 
25,000  dols.    Of  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  see  p.  9. 

*  Of  Darifers  [Mass.]  A  young  man  of  unblemished 
reputation — of  a  strong  mind — of  liberal  acquirements,  and 
of  niore  than  ordinary  application. 


27 

from  the  church  at  Charlestown,  [Mass.]  intending 
to  remove  thither  the  following  spring.  Accordingly 
on  Lord's  day,  April  8,  180i,  he  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon  in  this  place,  from  Acts  20.  32,  and,  on 
the  12th  of  the  same  month,  sailed  with  his  family 
for  Providence,  on  the  way  to  his  new  charge.* 

The  church*  being  then  without  any  ordained 
minister,  solicited  Mr.  Chaplin  to  receive  ordination 
and  to  take  upon  him  the  pastoral  charge.  After  due 
deliberation,  he  agreed  to  he  ordained,  but  not  im- 
mediately, as  the  pastor  of  this  church.  Arrange- 
ments were  then  made  for  his  ordination,  which  took 
place  in  this  meeting  house,  May  23,  180 4. f 

The  church  still  indulged  a  hope  that  Mr.  Chaplin 
would  accept  their  call  and  become  their  pastor  ; 
but  God,  who  "  hath  determined  the  times  before 

#  Mr  Coliier  was  esteemed,  by  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion, as  possessing  a  decent  education,  and  as  being  a  young 
man  of  good  morals  and  motives  ;  and  they  were  often  griev- 
ed at  hearing  a  few  individuals,  then  members  of  this  church, 
and  certain  persons  of  other  churches  (chiefly  Baptists  J 
in  the  city,  -speak  contemptuously  of  his  abilities,  of  which 
his  friends  endeavoured  always  to  make  the  best.  What 
then  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  this  church  and  congre- 
gation m  the  winter  of  1312,  when,  Mr.  Collier,  being  in 
this  city,  on  an  excursion  to  collect  money  to  enable  the 
church  of  which  he  is  pastor  to  build  a  meeting  house  and 
parsonage,  refused  to  preach  for  them,  on  account  of  tin- 
rumours  then  in  circulation  respecting  their  present  pastor! 
■especially  as  he  believed  those  very  persons  who  had  for- 
merly spoken  the  most  slightly  of  him,  and  of  whom  (com- 
paratively) he  had  but  little  knowledge,  rather  than  tho^e 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  long  enjoyed,  whose  veracity 
he  had  long  proved,  and  w  hose  friendship  he  had  long  expe- 
rienced. 

X  Dr.  Thomas  Baldw  in  of  Boston  preached  the  ordina- 
tion sermon,  from  Daniel,  12.  3.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  of  Pen- 
nypack,  prayed  at  the  laying  on  of  hands,  Dr.  Stephen  Ga- 
no  of  Providence  gave  the  charge,   and  Elder  John  WU 
-liams  of  this  city  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 


28 

appointed,  and  the  bounds  of  our  habitation,"  had 
otherwise  ordered  :  but  a  few  months  had  elapsed 
when  Mr.  Chaplin,  becoming  strangely  dissatisfied 
in  his  mind,  and  being  solicited  to  return  to  Danvers, 
laid  before  the  church  a  letter,  in  which  he  declined 
the  acceptance  of  their  call.  The  church,  still 
willing  to  pursue  their  object,  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  and  endeavour  to  prevail  on  him  to 
continue  ;  but  he,  feeling  it  to  be  his  duty  to  go, 
and  willing  to  avoid  all  temptations  to  the  contrary, 
left  the  city,  without  giving  any  opportunity  for 
further  solicitation. 

The  remaining  part  of  this  history,  as  it  is  inse- 
parably connected  with  my  own  ministry,  I  enter 
upon  with  considerable  diffidence  ;  it  being,  as  every- 
one knows,  impossible  for  a  man  to  speak  of  him- 
self, cither  favourably  or  otherwise,  without  being 
subject  to  misconstruction  and  misrepresentation. 
The  task,  however,  at  all  hazards,  must  be  per- 
formed. 

On  the  6th  of  November  1804,  the  church,  ac- 
cording to  their  records  of  that  date,  assembled,  in 
their  destitute  condition,  to  deliberate  on  the  im- 
portant subject  of  procuring  a  pastor.  As  I,  at  their 
invitation,  had  visited  them  in  the  spring  of  1802, 
and  spent  two  Lord's  days  with  them,*  they  of  course 

*  On  leaving  the  city  I  gave  a  promise  to  a  committee,  ap- 
pointed by  the  church  to  confer  with  me  on  the  subject, 
that,  if  1  could  reconcile  it  with  duty,  I  would  return  and 
spend  a  few  months  with  the  church,  the  object  of  which 
on  their  part,  1  understood  to  be,  a  trial  of  my  qualifications 
as  pastor;  but  finding  on  my  arrival  at  home,  an  increas- 
ing demand  for  itinerant  preaching,  and  my  wife,  not 
oniy  unwilling,  but,  apparently,  determined  never  to  go  to 
New-York,  1  at  once  relinquished  the  idea  of  going,  and 
communicated  my  decision  to  the  committee. 


29 


had  some  knowledge  of  me ;  and,  from  considerations 
best  known  to  themselves,  they  agreed  to  send  for 
me  to  spend  3,  4,  5,  or  6  months  with  them,  as  I 
might  find  most  convenient  ,*  that  so,  by  mutual  ob- 
servation and  experience,  we  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  judge  whether  it  was  agreeable  to  the  will 
of  God,  that  we  should  enter  into  the  relation  of 
pastor  and  people.  Their  letter  of  invitation  I  re- 
ceived at  Frederick-Town  (Md.)  on  the  17th  of  the 
same  month,  by  the  hands  of  their  worthy  messenger 
Mr.  Jonathan  Weeden.  My  circumstances,  at  that 
particular  period,  were  so  ordered  in  Holy  Provi- 
dence, that  all  obstacles  f  which  had  existed  in  the 
way  of  my  accepting  the  invitation  were  removed  : 
I  accepted  it  accordingly,  and  arrived  here  on  the 
2oth  of  December  following.  I  came,  not  only,  as 
the  nature  of  the  invitation  implied,  without  know- 
ing whether  it  would  be  the  wish  of  the  church  that 
I  should  settle  with  them,  but  also  without  any  in- 
tention to  settle.    My  intention  was  only  to  spend 

f  Two  of  these  I  think  it  a  duty  to  mention,  as  serving 
to  sheAV  the  special  concern  of  Providence  in  my  con  ing  to 
this  place.  First  my  sphere  of  labour  :  Though  the  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Frederick-Town  [Md.]  yet,  by  agreement, 
I  was  not  expected  to  spend  with  them,  more  than  one  Lord's 
day  in  every  month ;  and  therefore,  commonly,  had  almost 
daily  appointments  published  for  at  least  a  month,  and  often 
two  months  ahead ;  which,  at  any  other  time  than  that  at 
which  the  invitation  came,  would  have  prevented  compli- 
ance. Secondly,  the  uniform  determination  of  my  wife  not 
to  remove  from  among  her  relations,  especially  not  to  settle 
in  a  city.  Now,  however,  both  these  obstacles  were  re- 
moved ;  so  far,  at  least,  as  they  had  operated  in  the  way  of 
a  visit,  for  a  few  months  to  this  place ;  for  I,  being  just  in  a 
state  of  recovery  from  a  severe  illness  of  near  three  months, 
had  made  no  appointments ;  and  the  Lord  having,  in  the 
time  of  my  illness,  removed,  by  death,  our  only  child,  a 
daughter  about  20  months  old,  my  wife,  overwhelmed  with 
distress  at  the  loss,  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  forget  her  attach- 


30 


the  winter  season  here,  an  ?  then  to  return  to  iny  for- 
mer and  favourite  course  of  itinerary  labours.  Stmn 
however,  I  began  to  have  doubts,  as  to  the  correct- 
ness of  my  purpose ;  for  although  no  instances  of 
awakening  appeared  for  some  months,  yet  I  thought 
I  perceived,  not  only  an  increase  of  hearers  and  at- 
tention, but  also  a  growth  of  mutual  attachment,  be- 
tween the  people  and  myself.  I  felt  them  much  upon 
my  heart  in  prayer  and  preaching,  and  their  conver- 
sation and  conduct  sufficiently  manifested  that  they 
felt  an  interest  in  my  labours. 

When  I  had  been  here  but  about  six  weeks,  the 
church,  by  a  committee,*  presented  me  a  call  to 
become  their  pastor,  bearing  date  February  8,  1805. 
This  act,  although  it  appeared  rather  premature., 
was,  notwithstanding,  on  their  part,  such  an  expres- 
sion of  satisfaction  and  confidence,  as  could  not  fail 
to  increase  both  my  attachment  to  them  and  my 
doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  leaving  them.  I  then 
wrote  to  several  ministers  and  other  christian  friends, 
soliciting  their  prayers  and  advice  and  found,  from 
their  answers,  that  they  were  all  of  opinion,  that 
"  the  thing  proceeded  from  the  Lord.*'  I  was  also 
considerably  influenced  by  the  conversation  of  such 
as  I  supposed  to  be  God's  children,  not  only  of  this 
church,  but  also  of  other  churches,  both  in  the  city 
and  in  the  country;  and  especially,  by  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  led  to  pray  that  I  might  see  it  to 
be  my  duty  to  remain  here.f  My  suspense  continued; 
"  And,"  to  adopt  the  language  of  Paul  to  the  Co- 
rinthians, «  I  was  with  you,5'  brethren,  "  in  weak- 

ments  to  the  place  of  her  nativity,  and  to  consider  a  journey 

as  rather  desirable  than  otherwise. 

*  John  Duffie,  John  Bedient,  and  Jonathan  Weeden, 
t  I  remember  to  have  been  peculiarly  impressed,  in  one 

•f  offr  society  meetings,  under  a  prayer  by  Elder  William 


31 


"  ness,  and  in  fear  and  in  much  trembling  :"  in 
zveakness,  being  just  in  a  state  of  recovery  from  a 
long  and  severe  illness, — in  fear,  lest  I  should  make 
a  wrong  decision, — and  in  much  trembling,  under  a 
sense  of  my  insufficiency  for  so  great  a  work. 
"  My  speech  and  my  preaehing,"  as  you  well  recol- 
lect, «  was  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wis- 
"  dom,"  for  which  I  neither  had  nor  have,  either 
ability  or  inclination,  "  but,"  to  the  praise  of  Divine 
grace,  "  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  pow- 
*«  er."(a)  Of  this,  some  in  the  present  assembly- 
arc  living  witnesses. 

This  testimony  of  the  spirit,  began  to  appear  in 
the  latter  part  of  Feb.  and  gradually  increased  until 
the  vast  change  upon  the  face  of  nature,  at  the- 
breaking  up  of  a  severe  winter,  and  the  ushering 
in  of  a  beautiful  spring  and  a  fruitful  summer,  was 
but  a  just  emblem  of  what  was  seen  and  felt  in  this 
church  and  congregation.  What  is  said  of  the  gospel 
dispensation  in  common  might  then,  with  a  propriety 
seldom  exceeded,  have  been  accommodated  to  this 
place,*  and  to  this  people  in  particular:  66  Lo  the 
winter  is  past,  the  rain  is  over  and  gone  ;  the  flowers 
appear  on  the  earth  ;  the  time  of  the  singing  of 
birds  is  come,  and  the  voice  of  the  Turtle  is  heard 
in  our  land."    (6)  What  beamings  of  the  Sun  of 

Vanhorn,  then  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  Scotch  Plains  ; 
in  which,  after  several  other  petitions  on  the  same  subject, 
he  likened  my  mission  to  this  city,  to  that  of  Jonah  to 
Nineveh,  and  prayed,  seemingly,  with  more  than  common 
fervor,  that  I  might  not  like  Jonah,  run  away  from  the 
work  of  the  Lord. 

(a)  1  Cor.  3,  4. 
*  The  revival  was  not  confined  to  this  church  :  most  of 
the  churches  in   the  city  shared  in  it  :  particularly  that  in 
Fayette  street. 

(6)  Cant.  2.  11,  12. 


S3 


Righteousness  I  what  meltings  of  icy  hearts !  and 
what  flowings  of  penitential  tears  I  what  blossoms 
and  buds  of  quickening  grace !  what  fruits  and 
effects  of  living  faith!  and  what  rejoicing  and 
singing  of  new-born  souls,  were  then  witnessed 
here !  And  why  ?  because  the  voice  of  the  Turtle, 
the  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  attending  the  gospel  was 
heard  in  our  land — heard  by  many  poor  sinners,  not 
only  convincing  them  of  "  sin,  of  righteousness,  and 
of  a  judgment  to  come,"  but  also  testifying  pardon  to 
their  guilty  consciences  and  communicating  peace  to 
their  broken  hearts,  through  the  precious  blood  of 
the  precious  Redeemer.  Scenes  were  then  opened 
and  impressions  made  which  can  never  be  forgotten ; 
which  noiv,  indeed,  we  recollect  with  a  mournful 
pleasure,  each  saying  with  job,  "  O  that  I  were  as 
in  months  past;"  but  which  we  shall  recollect  in 
heaven,  with  overflowings  of  immortal  gratitude  and 
everlasting  praise. 

The  first  time  I  administered  baptism  in  this  city, 
was  on  Lord's  day,  March  3,  1805.  We  then  had 
two  subjects.  On  Lord's  day,  April  4th  I  baptized 
8.*  Appearances  in  the  church  and  congregation, 
now  began  to  be  such  as  carried  in  them  irresistible 
evidence  that  it  was  my  duty,  for  a  time  at  least,  to 
continue  here.  Accordingly,  on  Lord's  day  April  14th 
I  made  known  to  the  church,  (they  having  tarried  for 
the  purpose  after  public  worship,)that  I  accepted  their 
call,  dated  the  8th  of  Feb.  preceding.!  In  May  I 
bapized  5;  who,  added  to  those  of  March  and  April, 

*  That  day  I  was  received  as  a  member  of  this  church,  on 
evidence  of  good  standing  in  the  Baptist  church,  at  Frede- 
rick Town,  Maryland; 

|  This  call  provides  that  either  party  may  be  released 
from  the  obligation  on  a  notice  of  six  months 


33 


and  one  baptized  by  Elder  Chaplin,  before  he  left 
the  city,  made  16,  returned  to  the  association  that 
term,  (May  1805.)  In  June  I  baptized  6  ;  in  July 
20  ;  and  in  August  24.* 

Now,  in  the  course  of  Providence,I  was  called  to  go 
on  a  tour  to  the  Southward  :  1  calculated  to  return  in 
Sept.  but  the  yellow  fever  breaking  out  in  the  city,  I 
did  not  return  until  the  22d  of  Oct.  During  the  rage 
of  the  epidemic,  our  meeting  house  was  closed  ;  no 
church  meetings  were  held,  and,  of  course,  no  records 
were  kept. 

The  first  time  we  met,  as  a  church,  after  the  fever 
was  on  the  evening  of  Novr.  1st  when  4  persons,  on 
a  relation  of  their  experience,  were  received  as  can- 
didates for  baptism,  and  who,  on  the  Lord's  day  fol- 
lowing, were  baptized  and  acknowledged  as  members 
of  the  church.    In  Dec.  I  baptized  16. 

Now  again  (circumstances  inProvidcnce  rendering 
it  necessary)  I  made  a  tour  to  the  Southward,  ex- 
pecting to  return  in  Jany.  but  v\as  detained  so  as  not 
to  arrive  here  until  the  2d  of  April  1806.  During 
my  absence  the  church  was  gupplied,  chiefly,  by 
Elders  Caleb  Blood  and  John  Ellis,  by  the  latter  of 
whom,  on  the  2d  of  March,  6  persons  were  baptized 
and  received  into  the  church.  In  Apiil  I  baptized 
9,  and  in  May  6  ;  making  in  all  91  received  on  a  pro- 
fession of  faith  and  baptism,  from  the  association  in 
May  1805,  to  that  in  May  1806. 

The  ingathering  of  which  I  now  speak,  was  chief- 
ly remarkable  for  its  gradual  progress  and  long  con- 
tinuance, both  of  which  are  evident,  on  viewing,  in 
connexion   with  the   numbers  already  mentioned;, 

*  The  two  numbers  last  mentioned  were  the  Ir.-gest  receiv- 
ed during  the  revival.  The  most  usual  numbers  were  from 
6  to  12. 


3* 


(hose  reported  to  ihe  association  at  a  few  of  its  suc- 
ceeding meetings.  At  the  meeting  in  1807,  we  re- 
ported 81 ;  at  that  in  1808,  94,-  at  that  in  1809,  53; 
at  that  in  1810,  42 ;  at  that  in  1811,  43  ;  and  at  that 
in  1812,  20 ;  baptized  and  received,  on  profession  of 
"  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  toward  our 
#  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

In  this  view  of  the  church,  since  my  connexion 
with  it,  we  have  witnessed  much  that  has  been  both 
pleasing  and  comforting ;  and  of  which  it  is  hoped 
we  shall  ever  have  a  grateful  recollection. 

Adversity,  however,  as  well  as  prosperity  is  an  at- 
tendant on  human  life  :  and  it  is  no  doubt,  in  great 
mercy  to  mankind,  that,  according  to  Eec.  7.  14. 
«  God  hath  set  the  one  over  against  the  other,"  that 
so,  either  by  a  happy  mixture  or  by  a  seasonable  ex- 
change,, the  one  may  suppress  presumption  and  the 
other  despair.    As  this  is  true  of  human  life  in  com- 
mon, so  especially  of  christian  life  ;  for  every  church 
of  Christ,  though  at  some  times,  like  Jerusalem, 
a  vision  of  peace,  is,  nevertheless,  at  other  times, 
like  the  Simla  mite,  a  company  of  two  armies.  Both 
these  conditions  have  been  largely  experienced  by 
this  church.    And  as  the  number  of  hypocrites  in  a 
revival,  generally,  bears  about  the  same  proportion 
to  that  of  real  converts,  which,  in  a  harvest,  the 
chaff  does  to  the  wheat,  and  as  the  last  ingathering 
to  this  church  appears,  from  her  records  to  have 
been  much  greater  than  any  preceding  one,  so,  con- 
sequently, it  can  be  no  matter  of  wonder,  if  among 
them  there  should  have  been  a  greater  number  of 
false  professors,  i(  crept  in  unawares,"  nor  yet,  that 
the  separation  of  the  dead  from  the  living,  should 
have  occasioned  more  labour  and  sorrow  than  had 
*»vcrhccn  endured  in  the  family  before. 


35 


The  principal  cases  of  difficulty  and  labour  which 
have  occurred  in  this  church,  within  a  few  year* 
past,  are  the  following  : 

In  1808  some  dissention  arose  about  doctrine; 
which,  in  the  course  of  three  years,  occasioned  the 
exclusion  of  eight  or  ten  members ;  some  of  whom, 
however,  were  persons  of  old  standing  in  the  church. 

In  the  same  year  another  difficulty  arose  concern- 
ing slave  holding.  On  this  many  meetings  were 
held  and  much  discussion  had ;  when  the  church, 
generally,  willing  to  discountenance  the  practice, 
resolved  that,  in  future,  no  person  holding  a  slave 
for  life,  should  be  admitted  a  member;  and  appointed 
also  a  committee  to  wait  on*  such  of  her  members  as 
held  slaves,  to  obtain,  if  possible,  their  consent  to 
manumit  them,  at  such  periods  as  their  several  ages 
and  times  of  past  service  might  justify,  and  to  take 
their  certificates  of  the  same  accordingly.*!  As  this 
committee  was,  generally  successful,  and  as  the 
church  deemed  it  unjust  to  use  any  compulsive  mea- 
sures with  those  who  bad  been  received  and  till  then 
retained,  though  known  to  hold  slaves,  it  was  hoped 
that  all  would  have  been  satisfied.  Some  persons, 
however,  will  be  satisfied  with  nothing  as  a  standard 
of  propriety,  but  that  which  they  themselves  have 
set  up  :  such  remained  restless  :  and  the  spirit  which 
they  manifested,  not  only  then,  but  also  through  the 
whole  of  the  preceding  discussion,  left  on  the 
minds  of  many,  very  unfavourable  impressions  con- 
cerning their  motives.  Nor  did  tbat  spirit  depart 
with  the  termination  of  this  business  ;  but  ever  after, 
distinguished  a   certain  class  of  members  to  the 

*  A  committee  for  the  same  purpose  had  been  appointed 
at  the  commencement  of  the  difficulty,  but  that  committee 
reported,  instead  of  any  progress  in  the  business  assigned 
them,  a  long  and  laboured  treatise  on  slavery  and  its  conse- 
mienees. 


&6 

great  disturbance  of  the  church,  so  long  as  they  re- 
mained in  its  connexion. 

At  about  the  same  time  also  the  church  was  greatly- 
harassed  with  tbe  solicitations  of  several  young  men 
for  license  to  preach."  Some  of  them  were  permit- 
ted to  exercise  their  gifts  before  the  church  ;  and  al- 
though most  of  them  discovered  no  qualifications  for 
the  work,  it  was,  nevertheless,  not  without  great 
difficulty  that  such  were  prevailed  on  to  desist. f 

A  dispute  now  arose  between  two  members,:):  in 
which  those  dissatisfied  with  the  decisions  of  the 
church,  whether  on  the  question  relating  to  slavery, 
or  that  relating  to  the  applicants  for  license,  united 
on  one  side,§  and  pursued  their  object  with  all  that 
violence  which,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  had  long  been 
characteristic  of  their  proceedings.^  The  diffi- 
culty, as  to  form,  was  settled  ;  but  the  resentment 
of  one  of  the  parties,  and  of  those  combined  with 
him,  remained  :  wherefore,  finding  that  they  could  not 
control  the  church,  they  determined  to  leave  it  :  ac- 
cordingly, having,  by  much  duplicity,*5*  averted  the 
hand  of  discipline  and  increased  their  number  to  26, 
on  the  evening  oi  the  26th  of  March,  iSll,  they 

#  Particularly  Jacob  H.  Brunner,  brother  to  Mrs.  Win- 
tringhani. 

t  At  about  this  time  Mr.  James  Bruce  was  licened,  which 
preference  much  offended  Brunner  and  his  connexions. 
J  Edward  Meeks  and  John  Wintringham. 
§  That  of  Wintrigham. 

IT  Out  of  this  grew  the  exclusion  of  Dr.  Mc  Intosh  :  for 
prevarication  ;  denying  his  own  words  till  proved,  when  he 
was  forced  to  own  them  ;  misrepresentation  and  obstinacy. 

*#To  secure  their  dismission  they  affected  to  be  reconciled 
and  to  have  the  good  of  the  church  much  at  heart ;  but, 
to  increase  their  number,  they  were  [as  hath  since  been  lear- 
ned] at  the  same  time  labouring  to  disaffect  olher  members. 
Such  as  they  knew  to  be,  on  any  account,  dissatisfied  with  the 
Church,  they  invited  to  attend  their  private  meetings,  where 


*laid  before  us  a  letter,  requesting  a  dismission  to  be 
constituted  a  church.  In  this  letter  (and  which  they 
had  individually  signed)  they  expressed  the  greatest 
christian  affection,  both  for  this  church  and  its  pas- 
tor :  and  assigned  as  their  only  reasons  for  asking  a 
dismission,  that  they  entertained  views  of  discipline 
a  little  different  from  those  of  the  church  they  ad- 
dressed, and  that  they  believed  it  would  he  for  the 
glory  of  God  that  they  should  become  a  separate 
society.f    The  church  ignorant  of  their  duplicity 

thy  Might  use  all  means  to  strengthen  their  prejudices.  And 
others  whom  they  knew  to  be  well  auectetl  to  the  church,but 
who,  they  supposed  might  i>e  influenced  by  their  con  versa, 
tion,  they  visited  :  to  these  they  disavow  ed  any  ill  intention 
toward  the  church  ;  but  argued  that  it  was  too  large,  that  it 
would  be  for  the  glory  of  God  that  there  should  be  another 
church  ;  and  that,  as  it  would  be  small  it  was  their  duty  to 
join  it ;  also  that  by  so  doing  they  would  have  an  opportunity 
of  .jeing  more  useful :  mo  cover  they  flattered  them  with  the 
prospect  of  preferment  and  other  advantages  in  a  new  church. 
By  these  means  they  prevailed  on  some,  who  have  since  had 
reason  to  regret  having  listened  to  their  insinuations  ;  for 
when  it  was  discovered  that  they  could  not  unite  with  their 
leaders,  in  attempts  to  injure  the  church  they  had  left,  they 
soon  were  viewed  as  "  speckled  birds,"  and  some  of  them 
were  excluded. 

*  John  Missing,  James  Beldin,  William  Hart,  Win.  L. 
Pelsue,  Deborah  Bates,  Charles  C.  Andrews,  Nancy  An- 
drews, John  Wintringham,  Elizabeth  Missing,  Margaret 
Pelsue,  John  G.  Bates,  Levi  Valentine,  Eliza  Wintringham, 
Phebe  A.  Griffiths,  Hetty  Thomas,  Sally  Russel,  George 
Taylor,  Greenleaf  S.  Weeb,  Jane  Divine,  Jacob  H.  Brun- 
ner,  Win.  Harrison,  Griffith  P.  Griffiths,  Rachel  A.  Harrison, 
Even  Griffiths,  Elinor  Smith.  As  one  of  the  26  returned 
without  uniting  in  the  constitution,  the  name  of  that,  person 
is  omitted. 

f  Extract  from  their  letter,  dated  *New  York,  March  2G> 
1811." 

u  Dear  brethren." 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  affixed,  consider  it  a 
privilege  in  being  permitted  to  address  you  in  the  endearing 
relation  of  brethren  in  our  dear  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  and  cannot 


38 


and  influenced  by  their  apparent  reconciliation,  grant- 
ed their  request ;  and,  on  the  10th  of  April  follow- 
ing, they  were  constituted  *  under  the  name  of 
Zoar.  f 

The  difficulties  of  this  church,  however,  which 
have  occasioned  so  much  noise  in  the  world,  are  those 
which  arose  from  the  accusations  brought  against 
their  pastor.  What  these  accusations  were,  is  well 
known  both  to  the  church  and  the  world  ;  no 
means  having  been  spared  to  make  them  public  and 
to  give  them  effect.  Whether  the  accusations  be 
true  or  not,  the  public  will  be  better  able  to  judge 
when  they  shall  have  seen  a  statement  of  facts  rela- 

but  rejoice  when  we  contemplate  the  gracious  act  of  him 
who  has  called  us,  we  trust,  with  the  same  holy  calling,  and 
hath  made  us  experimentally  one  with  him,  notwithstanding 
our  great  unworthiness. 

We  also  trust  we  feel  thankful  for  the  fresh  and  green  pas- 
tures, which  our  good  shepherd  has  prepared  for  all  who  are 
called  to  be  saints,  and  especially  that  we  have  been  made  to 
participate  with  yea  in  the  enjoyment  of  them.  We  also 
feel  a  glow  of  gratitude  and  li  aise  for  feeling  and  witnessing 
the  goodness  of  the  great  i.ead  of  the  church,  in  sending  us 
our  beloved  pastor,  Elder  Wm.  Parkinson,  under  whose 
ministry,  God  has  visited  and  refreshed  our  souls,  with  the 
word  of  his  power  and  consolation."  Could  Eliza  AVintring- 
ham,  at  the  time  she  signed  this  letter,  have  known  of  the 
pastor  she  addressed,  what  she  has  since  affected  to  have 
known  of  him  ?  if  so  what  language  can  paint  her  baseness  ? 

*  For  reasons  best  known  to  themselves,  they  chose  the 
pastor  of  the  church  they  left,  and,  as  they  reported  to  him, 
unanimously,  to  preach,  and  he  preached  accordingly,  both 
at  the  opening  of  the  house  they  hired,  in  Rose  street,  as  a 
place  of  worship,  and  on  the  occasion  of  their  constitution. 

f  It  is  thought  by  many,  that  they  assumed  this  name  with 
a  view  of  intimating  that  the  church  they  had  left  was  com- 
parable to  Sodom.  If  so,  it  is  remarkable  that  Sodom  has 
survived  Zoar:  for  Zoar  dissolved  in  less  than  one  year;, 
whereas  the  church  likened,  by  that  implication,  to  Sodom, 
is  not  only  standing,  but,  to  the  praise  of  divine  favour 
prospering. 


39 


ting  to  the  several  reports,  which  it  is  intended  in 
some  form  to  publish.2* 

In  the  mean  time  the  accused  repeats  the  assertion, 
that  his  "  yea,  is  yea  ;  and  Lis  nay  is  nay  y'j  and  for 
these  very  good  reasons  :  his  master  hath  command- 
ed it,  and  an  apostle  exhorted  to  it ;  moreover  each  has 
enforced  it  by  a  most  weighty  consideration:  the 
master,  by  shewing  the  wickedness  of  any  further 
confirmations  among  his  disciples  :  "  Let  your  com- 
munications, saith  he,  be  yea,  yea ;  nay,  nay  ;  for 
whatsoever  is    more  than  these  cometh  of  evil," 
Matt.    5.  37       and  the  apostle,   by  suggesting 
the  danger  of  such  confirmations :  "  above  all  things 
my  brethren,  saith  he,  swear  not,  &e;  but  let  your 
yea  be  yea  ;  and  your  nay,  nay;  lest  ye  fall  into  con- 
demnation."   Jas.  5.  124 

*  This  statement  of  facts  is  now  given  in  the  annexed 
Narrative,  and  which  has  occasioned  some  delay  in  the  pub- 
lication of  the  sermon. 

f  This  assertion  he  original^  made  and  still  makes  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  demand  of  some  that  he  should  make  oath  of  his 
innocence.    The  demand  he  detests,  not  merely  from  a  con- 
viction, that  if  he  is  not  worthy  of  being  believed,  he 
is  not  worthy  of  christian  fellowship,  but  also  because  it  is 
contrary  to  divine  injunction.    Besides  he  was  well  aware 
that  those  who  were  not  satisfied  without  an  oath,  would  not 
be  satisfied  with  it ;  and  that  ihey  only  desired  it,  in  order 
that  they  might  have  a  pretence  to  brand  him  with  the  ad- 
ditional accusation  of  perjury.    This  opinion  has  since  been 
realized;  for  last  summer,  the  accused  being  subpoenaed  on 
the  question  whether  a  certain  man  of  colour  was  a  slave  or 
not,  Wintringham  and  Mc  Intosh  lounged  about  the  court  for 
part  of  two  or  three  days,  expecting  to  prevent  his  testimony 
from  being  received,  or,  if  received  to  prove  it  false,  and  so 
to  prove  him  perjured.    This  they  calculated  to  do  by  means 
of  a  certificate  of  freedom,  given  to  the  man  by  a  magistrate, 
to  entitle  him  to  a  vote  at  an  election;  but  which  the  court, 
immediately,  decided  was  of  no  avail  before  them.    Now  as 
they  had  the  face  to  make  such  an  attempt  on  the  veracity 
of  the  accused  in  a  matter  in  winch  he  had  no  interest,  what 
would  not  they  and  others  like  them  have  said  and  done, 
had  he  sworn  to  his  innocence  of  the  crimes  of  which  he 
has  been  accused. 


40 


How  much  trouble,  both  internal  and  external., 
these  accusations  and  the  prosecutions  upon  them, 
gave  to  this  church  and  its  pastor,  is  known  only  to 
God.  To  him,  therefore,  we  commit  our  cause,  and 
with  him  we  leave  our  enemies,  praying,  that  if 
consistent  with  his  purpose,  they  may  yet  become 
the  subjects  of  that  repentance  which  is  unto  life  5 
or,  if  he  have  otherwise  determined,  still  we  leave 
them  with  him,  <4  seeing  that  it  is  a  righteous  thing 
with  God  to  recompense  tribulation  to  them  that 
trouble  his  people."    See  2.  Thess.  1.  6.  * 

On  account  of  these  rumours,  from  the  beginning 
of  them  until  now,  18  persons  f  have  taken  dismis- 
sions from  the  church,  and  8  have  been  excluded.^ 

For  several  months  past,  however,  this  church 
has  enjoyed  the  greatest  peace  and  harmony  that  can 
be  calculated  on  in  this  imperfect  state.  And  altho' 
J  Neither  the  command  of  Christ  nor  the  exhortation  of 
the  apostle,  is  to  be  understood  as  prohibiting  the  solemnity 
of  an  oath  in  civil  matters  and  before  civil  officers*  for  altho* 
this  should  be  as  sparingly  used  as  possible,  yet  in  civil  gov- 
ernments it  cannot  he  altogether  avoided,  and  on  proper  occa- 
sions, "  an  oath  of  confirmation  is,  to  men,  an  end  of  all 
strife,"  Heb.  6.  16:  but  christians  are  hereby  forbidden  to 
use  any  such  confirmations  to  satisfy  each  other  in  matters 
relating  to  christian  character  and  fellowship,  also  In  com- 
mon conversation.  Anil  as  they  are  forbidden  to  use  them, 
so  of  course  to  require  them. 

This  vre  think  no  way  inconsistent  with  the  statement 
of  facts  in  the  narrative. 

f  Dismissed;  Maria  *Jc  Intosh  [wife  of  the  Dr.]  Eliza- 
beth Burnet,  Nathaniel  Smith,  Nathaniel  Davis,  Abigail 
Smith,  Hannah  Carman*  Elizabeth  Skates,  Elizabeth  Skates, 
[daughter,]  Margaiet  Clock,  Hester  Currey,  Elizabeth  Con- 
rey,  Mary  Gilmore,  Ann  Mullen,  Wm.  Colgate,  Charlotte 
Horton,  Eliza  P.  Dodge,  Re1  eccah  Dixon,  Saiah  Downer. 
Mary  Prince  also  took  a  dismission,  but  when  her  husband 
[Mr.  Samuel  Prince]  returned  to  his  seat  as  one  of  the  con- 
gregation, she  leturned — satisfied  the  church,  and  took  her 
place  as  a  member;  not.  having  joined  any  other  church. 

X  Excluded  :  Elsie  Hoftmire,  Leonard  Bleecker,  Margaret 
Dibble,  Elizabeth  Mapes,  Ann  Madan,  Su$an  Brown,  Sa- 
V  Butler,  Catharine  Tyiee. 


41 


it  is  not  with  us,  a  time  of  special  animation,  nor  of 
abundant  increase,  yet  we  have  much  for  which  to  be 
thankful ;  being  rid  of  many  troublesome  persons, 
our  church  meetings  are  solemn  and  pleasant;  w  e  have 
a  small  addition  almost  every  month  we  witness,  in 
a  numerous  congregation,  a  respectful  attention  to 
the  word  of  life,  and  behold  some  who  **  ask  the  way 
to  Zion  with  their  faces,',  and,  we  trust,  their  hearts 
f*  thitherward." 

In  giving  the  history  of  this  church,  it  w  ill  be  cx- 
pecte  1  that  notice  be  taken  of  the  churches  and  min- 
isters that  have  proceeded  from  her. 

The  churches  :  of  these,  two  have  been  mentioned 
already :  the  others,  in  the  order  in  which  the\  ori- 
ginated are,  The  church  at  PeckskilJ,(a)  the  church 
at  Stamford, (b)  the  Abyssinian  church, (c)  the  church 
at  New-Town, (d)  and  the  North  Baptist  Church. (e) 

The  ministers  :  these,  in  the  order  in  which  they 
were  ordained,  are  Thomas  U stick,  ff )  Ebenezer 

(a)  State  of  New-York  :  time  of  constitution  unknown. 

(b)  Connecticut:  constituted  1 773. 

(c)  Meeting  in  Anthony  street,  New-York :  constituted 
July  5th. 

(d)  Long-Island:  constituted  Sept.  12th. 

(e)  Meeting  in  Bud  street,  New-York  ;  constituted  Nov. 
13th,  all  in  1809. 

8^  The  church  on  Staten-Island  also  was  in  a  great  dcv 
gree  formed  of  persons  who  had  belonged  to  this  church. 
The  other  constituents  of  that  church  were  chiefly  called  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Elder  Elkanah  Roimes,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  and  most  Useful  ministers  that  have  ever  laboured  on 
Staten-Island.    He  now  resides  in  Upper  Canada. 

(f)  Mr.  Ustick  was  baptized  in  the  13th  year  of  his  age. 
The  dates  of  his  license  and  ordination  wc  have  not  learned. 
He  was  educated  at  Rhode-Island  college,  under  president 
Manning.  Life  of  Gano,  p.  91.  He  was  many  years  the 
pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Philadelphia,  where,  he 
died,  April  18th,  1803;  aged  about  50  years. 

F 


*2 


Ferris,  (g)  Isaac  Skillman,  (K)  Stephen  Gano,  (i) 
Thomas  Montanye,(/c)  Cornelius  P.  Wyckoff,(l)  James 
Bruce, (m)  John  Seger.(n) 

(g)  Mr.  Ferris  was  dismissed  with  others  to  constitute  the 
church  at  Stamford,  Nov.  1st,  1773.  He  was  licensed  by 
that  church,  and  has  been,  for  many  years,  their  pastor. 

(h)  Mr.  [  ifterward  Dr.]  Skillman  was  a  native  of  New- 
Jersey,  and  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College.  He  was  bap- 
tized and  received  a  member  of  this  church  June  16,  1771. 
He  was  14  years  the  pastor  of  the  2d  Baptist  church  in  Bos- 
ton. He  then  returned  to  his  native  state,  and  became  pas- 
tor of  the  church  at  Salem,  where  he  died  but  a  few  years 
since.  See  Dr.  Baldwin's  sermon  at  the  opening  of  the  new 
meeting  house  of  the  2d  church,  Boston,  preached  Jan.  1, 
1811.  p.  27. 

(i)  Dr.  Gano  is  a  son  of  the  venerable  proto-pastor  of  this 
church.  He  was  bred  a  physician.  He  was  baptized  April 
2,  1785 ;  soon  after  licensed  topreach,  and  on  August  2,  1786 
ordained.  He  has  been  for  many  years,  the  pastor  of  the 
first  Baptist  church  in  Providence,  R.  I. 

(k)  Mr.  Montanye  is  a  son  of  Elder  Benj.  Montanye,  pas- 
tor of  the  Baptist  church  at  the  Deer  Park,  state  of  New- 
York.  He  was  licensed  Dec.  5,  1787.  He  was  several 
years  pastor  of  the  church  at  Warwick,  state  of  N.York, 
and  is  now  pastor  of  the  church  at  Southampton,  Penn. 

(/)  Mr.  AVyckoff  was  baptized  Dec.  6,  1807;  licensed 
June  21,  1808,  and  ordained  the  9th  of  Nov.  following. 
He  is  pastor  of  the  North  Baptist  church  in  this  city. 

Deceased.  The  life  of  Mr.  Bruce  tho'  very  short, 
embraced  so  many  changes  and  these  in  such  swift  succes- 
sion, as  to  render  it  remarkable:  He  was  born  Oct.  20,  1791. 
At  the  usual  age  he  was  bound  an  apprentice  to  a  watch- 
maker. In  the  15th  year  of  his  age,  [Dec.  7.  1806,]  he  was 
baptized,  on  profession  of  faith  in  Christ:  Oct.  17,  1809, 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  though  under  some  restrictions, 
being  an  apprentice.  The  expectations,  however  of  his 
usefulness  in  the  ministry,  were  so  great,  that  his  friends  in- 
terested themselves  in  his  behalf  and  raised,  by  subscrip- 
tion, 500  dols.  the  sum  which  his  master  agreed  to  take  for 
the  remainder  of  his  time.  His  freedom  being  obtained  he 
received  a  full  licence,  and  on  the  21st  of  June  1810,  he  was 
ordained,  being  then  but  in  the  18th  year  of  his  age.  He  took 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Baptist  church  on  Staten  Island,at 
whose  request  he  hadbeen  ordained;  there  he  had  several  seals 
to  his  ministry ,whom  he  baptized ;  but  falling  into  a-consump- 


The  largest  number  of  which  this  church  has,  al 
any  time,  consisted  was  564 :  this  was  in  the  spring 
of  1809 :  and  after  dismissing  86  to  form  new 
churches,  and  several  who  have  removed  to  the 
country,  besides  those  taken  away  by  death,  and 
those  separated  from  us  by  dismission  and  exclusion, 
during  our  fiery  trials,  we  remain,  in  number,  about 
480.* 

Now,  having,  in  some  manner,  noticed  both  the 
circumstances  which  led  to  the  constitution  of  this 
church,  and  those  which  have  marked  its  progress, 
I  come  to  make  some  improvement,  from  the  text 
and  the  occasion. 

Did  Samuel  erect  a  monument  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  Jehovah's  goodness  to  ancient  Israel  I 
He  did ;  is  it  not  then  the  duty  of  christians,  and 
particularly  of  christian  ministers  to  use  the  best 
means  in  their  power,  to  preserve  the  recollection  of 
divine  mercies  to  the  gospel  church ;  especially,  to 
those  branches  thereof  with  which  they  are  severally 
connected  ?  We  think  it  is ;  and,  under  a  sense  of 
this  duty,  I,  with  some  care  and  labour,  have  col- 
lected the  several  parts  of  information  concerning 
this  church,  which  have  now  been  communicated. 

tion,  he  served  the  church  but  about  one  year,  when,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1811,  in  the  19th  year  of  his  age,  he  fell 
asleep,  it  is  hoped,  in  Jesus.  Mr.  Bruce  was  married  to 
Susan,  the  only  daughter  of  Mr.  Christopher  Halstead  of 
this  city,  and  left  one  child,  a  son,  who  bears  his  own  name. 
His  widow  has  lately  been  married  to  capt.  John  G.  Clark, 
of  NewRochelle. 

(n)  Mr.  Seger  was  licensed,  March  7,  1809;  and  ordain- 
ed Jan.  7,  1813.  He  remains  a  member  of  this  church. 
As  his  ordination  has  taken  place  since  the  delivery  of  this 
sermon,  his  name,  of  course,  was  not  then  mentioned. 

*  To  reconcile  this,  it  must  be  recollected,  that  there 
have  been  additions  to  the  church,  as  well  as  separation? 
from  it. 


44 


Many  things,  probably,  of  which  some  expected  to 
hear,  have  been  omitted,  either  as  being  deemed 
unimportant,  or  to  avoid  an  accumulation  of  matter 
beyond  the  limits  of  a  sermon.    Other  events,  for 
the  same  reasons,  have  been  mentioned,  without 
noticing  all  the  circumstances  which  led  to  them. 
And  if,  in  anv  instances,  facts  have  been  represented, 
not  altogether  correctly,  I  have  the  satisfaction  to 
know  that  it  hath  not  been  done  designedly ;  having 
always  had  recourse  to  the  best  means  of  informa- 
tion, and  having  invariably  aimed  at  truth. 

Was  it  the  design  of  Samuel,  that  the  Ebenezer 
which  he  reared  should  excite  in  the  Israelites, 
when  ever  they  viewed  it,  gratitude  and  praise  to 
their  great  deliverer  ?  It  evidently  was.  O  that 
these  my  feeble  labours  may,  under  the  divine  bless- 
ing, have  that  effect  upon  the  members  of  this  church ! 
If  so,  my  beloved  brethren  and  sisters,  you  will,  not 
only  at  the  present  hearing,  but  also  at  every  review 
of  the  mercies  now  enumerated,  adopt  the  language 
of  the  text,  and  in  glowing  gratitude  say,  Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us. 
In  the  use  of  these  words 

1.  We  imply  that,  like  the  Israelites,  we  have  ex- 
perienced a  state  of  warfare  ;  and  which  we  have, 
both  as  individuals  and  as  a  society.  As  individuals  we 
have  had,  in  common  with  other  christians,  to  com- 
bat indwelling  sin,  a  tempting  devil,  and  an  insnaring 
world.  And  as  a  society,  this  church,  as  appears 
from  the  preceding  history  and  the  annexed  Narra- 
tive, has  experienced  many  internal  commotions  and 
external  attacks  ;  and  some  of  them  of  a  very  singu- 
lar nature,  and  productive  of  more  than  ordinary 
tribulation.* 

*  Persecutions,  indictment?,  Szc.  under  various  accusa- 
tions, against  ministers  and  other  christians,  have  often  oc- 


45 


2.  We  acknowledge,  with  Israel,  that  our  support 
hath,  been,  not  of  ourselves,  but  of  the  Lord  ;  the 
Lord  hath  helped  us.     This  acknowledgement  we 
have  individually,  had  frequent  occasions  to  make,. 
How  often  has  each,  on  reviewing  conflicts  with  the 
propensities  of  an  evil  heart,  and  the  stratagems  of 
satan  and  the  world,  had  reason  to  say,  these  ene- 
mies of  my  soul  had  gained  the  victory,  but  the 
Lord  helped  me  I  The  ordinary  means  through  which 
the  Lord  helps,  that  is,  strengthens  and  encourages 
his  people,  are  his  word  and  ordinances :  neverthe- 
less, most  of  them  have  to  acknowledge  his  help 
also,  by  remarkable  dispensations  of  his  providence 
and  special  operations  of  his  spirit :  by  remarkable 
dispensations  of  his  providence:  some  by  dispensations 
which  either  removed  them  from  temptation,  or  pre- 
vented them  from  sinning ;  others  by  dispensations 
which  either  kept  them  from  taking  measures  which 
would  have  involved  them  in  trouble,  or  being  in- 
volved, marvellously  delivered  them ;  and  others  by 
dispensations  which  either  preserved  or  furnished  to 
them  the  necessaries  of  life,  when  all  their  efforts 

curred,  from  the  malignity  and  power  of  antichrist ;  but  who 
ever,  until  1311,  knew  of  any  one  being  so  treated  by  the 
Baptists  ?  What  church,  till  then,  ever  witnessed  their  pas- 
tor under  trial  for  an  alledged  Assault  and  Battery,  originated 
and  supported  by  persons  of  his  own  denomination,  and  be- 
held members  of  sister  churches  manifestly  thirsting  for  his 
condemnation — exulting  when  any  thing  was  said,  by  a 
witness  or  a  lawyer,  that  might  operate  against  him ;  bat 
discovering  regret  at  any  thing  that  appeared  in  his  favour, 
and  who,  when  a  verdict  of  not  guilty,  was  brought  in, 
exhibited  in  their  countenances  the  strongest  marks  of  pain- 
ful disappointment  ?  Yet  all  this  was  witnessed  by  many 
members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  New-York.  It  is 
thought  to  be  a  duty,  here  to  mention,  that  no  such  treat- 
ment, has,  at  any  time,  been  received  by  the  church  or  their 
pastor,  from  either  ministers  or  private  professors  of  i\nx 
•other  denomination. 


46 


failed  and  all  their  hopes  had  fled :  by  special  oper- 
ations of  his  spirit ;  operations  by  which  his  perfec- 
tions and  promises  were  seasonably  impressed  upon 
their  minds.  How  often,  believer,  when  on  the 
verge  of  giving  way,  either  to  despondency  or  im- 
morality, has  the  thought,  "  Thou  God  seest  me," 
prevented !  How  frequently  also,  when  sinking  under 
present  trials,  or  under  the  prospect  of  trials  ap- 
proaching, has  the  address,  «  My  grace  is  sufficient 
"  for  thee ;  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness," 
checked  your  unbelief  and  made  you  feel 66  strong  in 
(i  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might?"  As  a 
church  also  we  have  abundant  reason  to  make  the 
same  acknowledgement ;  for,  to  use  the  language  of 
the  psalmist,  «  If  it  had  not  been  the  Lord  who  was 
"  on  our  side,  when  men  rose  up  against  us ;  then 
<<  they  had  swallowed  us  up  quick,  when  their  wrath 
"  was  kindled  against  us."  Psal.  124.  2,  3. 

3.  We  acknowledge,  not  only  that  the  Lord  hath 
helped  us,  but  moreover,  that  his  help  hath  been  in- 
cessant :  hitherto,  all  the  way,  every  step,  and  every 
moment,  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.  Have  we  endured 
tribulation  ?  The  Lord  hath  strengthened  us :  have 
we  experienced  deliverance  ?  The  Lord  hath  wrought 
it :  have  we  had  occasions  of  rejoicing  ?  The  Lord 
hath  furnished  them :  and,  if  we  have  had  hearts 
prepared  for  thanksgiving ,  the  Lord  hath  prepared 
them ;  for  «  the  preparation  of  the  heart,"  as  well 
as  every  other  blessing  "  is  from  the  Lord." 

But  if  the  Lord  hath  thus  helped  us  hitherto,  then 
J.  Let  us  not  look  to  any  other  helper  for  the  time 
to  come.  This  was  often  the  God-provoking  sin  of 
Israel.  How  frequently  and  how  marvellously  did  God 
deliver  them  !  yet  how  prone  were  they  to  "  look  to 
*  Egypt  for  help,"  and  to  «  trust  in  an  arm  of  flesji," 


47 


yea  in  dumb  idols !  O  that  we  may  never  be  left  to 
act  in  like  manner ! 

3.  Let  us  be  careful  never  to  distrust  his  favour. 
Why  should  we  ?  Hath  he  ever  been  unto  us  as  a 
barren  wilderness  or  a  land  of  darkness  ?(a)  Or 
hath  he  ever  been  unmindful  of  his  word  on  which 
he  had  caused  us  to  hope  ?(&)  On  the  contrary  ;  hath 
he  not  often  exceeded  our  largest  expectations,  and 
even  astonished  us  with  displays  of  his  favour,  both 
in  temporal  and  spiritual  things  ?  We  have  also  the 
strongest  assurances  of  his  presence  and  support  for 
time  to  come ;  he  is  saying  to  every  believer,  "  I  will 
never  "  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee,"(c)  and, "  as  thy 
((  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be  :"(tl)  to  indulge  dis- 
trust is,  therefore,  a  base  requital  of  his  mercy,  and 
even  an  impudent  challenge  of  his  veracity  ;  yea  it  is 
to  repose  less  confidence  in  him,  than  we  do  in  a  fel- 
low creature  ;  for  even  a  man  whose  friendship  and 
faithfulness  we  have  long  experienced,  we  think 
worthy  of  our  confidence,  that  is,  in  a  sense  and  to  a 
degree  consistent  with  frail  nature  ;  and  if  he  have 
given  us  a  promise,  and  possess  the  means  of  accom 
plishing  it,  we  expect  the  favour  promised.  How 
much  more  should  we  believe  God,  with  whom  it  is 
impossible  to  lie,  and,  in  the  proper  use  of  means,  look 
for  all  we  need  from  him,  who,  with  heaven  and  earth 
at  his  command  is  saying,  «<  They  that  seek  the  Lord 
•f  shall  not  want  any  good  thing."(e)  Difficulties  may 
be  great ;  but,"  is  any  thing  too  hard  for  theLord?"^ 

(a)  See  Jer.  2.  31. 

(b)  See  Psal.  119;  49. 

(c)  Heb.  13.  5. 

(d)  Deut.  33.  25. 

(e)  Psal.  34.  10. 

(f)  Gen.  13.  14. 


Times  may  be  trying ;  but  they  are  all  in  the  hand 
of  the  Lord,  and  in  him,  therefore,  we  are  exhorted 
to  "  trust  at  all  times."(g)  Circumstances  maybe  per- 
plexing, but  all  things  work  together  for  good,  to 
them  that  love  God,  to  tbem  who  are  the  called  ac- 
cording to  his  purpose. (ft)  Let  each  believer  then, 
recollect  the  injunction,  "commit  thy  way  unto  the 
P  Lord,"(i)  and,  in  humble,  holy  confidence  say,  «  The 
~f*  Lord  will  perfect  that  which  concerneth  me."(fe) 
As  a  church,  let  us  adopt  the  language  of  triumph- 
ant Israel :  "  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very 
«  present  help  in  trouble  :  therefore  will  not  we  fear, 
*tf  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the 
«  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea ; 
«  though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled, 
"  though  the  mountains  shake  with  the  swelling there- 
«  of.  Selah.  There  is  a  river,  the  streams  where- 
"  of  shall  make  glad  the  city  of  God,  the  holy  place 
"  of  the  tabernacles  of  the  Most  High.  God  is  in  the 
*•  midst  of  her ;  [the  church  ;]  she  shall  not  be  mov- 
"  ed ;  God  shall  help  her,  and  that  right  early." 
Psal.  46.  1—5. 

Brethren,  do  you  need  additional  excitements  to 
perseverance  ?  recollect  the  cause  you  have  espoused 
is  the  cause  of  God,  and,  therefore  must  inevitably 
succeed ;  the  warfare  in  which  you  are  engaged  is 
that  in  which  Jesus  bled,  and  yet,  bleeding,  over- 
came ;  the  enemies  you  oppose  are  the  enemies  of 
Jehovah,  and  will,  therefore,  most  certainly  be 
subdued  :  Do  you  contend  with  sin  ?  «  It  shall  not 
have  dominion  over  you  ?9  (V) — with  Satan  ?  «  The 

(g)  Psal.  31.  15.  and  62.  8. 

(h)  Rom.  8.  28. 

(i)  Psal.  37.  6. 
(k)  Ibid.  138.  8. 
0)  Rom.  6.  14. 


49 


God  of  peace  shall  bruise  him  under  your  feet  short- 
ly;"^)— with  the  allurements  of  the  world?  "  The 
fashion  of  this  world  passeth  away,"(w)  and  "  the 
works  that  are  therein  shall  be  burnt  up."(o)  Victory  • 
Victoi-y  !  on  the  part  of  Zion.  remember,is  certain;  for 
God  hath  said  unto  her,  "  No  weapon  that  is  formed 
against  thee  shall  prosper;  and  every  tongue  that 
shall  rise  against  thee  in  judgment  thou  shalt  con- 
demn, "(p)    Nor  can  the  conflict  be  long.    Here  lam 
i    minded  of  an  address  to  ancient  Israel,  which  I 
tK  ik  not  inapplicable,  my  brethren,  to  you  :  "Your 
fathers,where  are  they         But  about  half  a  century 
hath  elapsed  since  the  constitution  of  this  church  ; 
yet  not  even  one  person  who  was  a  member  then,  re- 
mains a  member  now  :  where  are  they  ?  with  the 
exception  only  of  one,*  they  are  gone  to  eternity  ; 
and,  we  trust,  through  grace  to  glory.    Many  also 
of  those  added  since  the  constitution,  have  already 
been  called  from  the  church  militant,  to  the  church 
friumphant.    And  you  who  remain  are  hastening  to 
give  place  to  another  generation,  both  in  the  church 
and  in  the  world.     Some  of  you  already  exhibit 
strong  marks  of  decaying  nature  ;  and,  in  a  few  years 
at  most  (afflicting  thought  to  those  who  shall  remain!) 
your  sage  advice  will  no  longer  direct  the  councils, 
nor  your  silver  locks  grace  the  assemblies  of  this 
church  and  society.    May  vour  last  days  be  your  best 
days  !   may  you  "  come  to  the  grave  in  a  full  age, 
like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his  season  I'Y/O 

*  Samuel  Edmunds ;  see  p.  10. 

(ro)Rom.  16.  20. 

(»)  1  Cor.  7.  31. 

(o)  2  Pet.  3.  10. 

(p)  Isai.  54.  17. 

(q)  Zech.  1.  5. 

(r)  Job.  5.  26. 


59 

and  while  the  afflicted  church  shall  be  lamenting  their 
loss,  may  you  be  adoring  before  the  throne  of  God! 

Others  of  you  are,  it  is  true,  yet  in  the  vigor  of 
your  days  ;  nevertheless,  be  not  dismayed  under  the 
anticipation  of  remaining  trials  :  many  trials  that 
you  anticipate  may  never  occur ;  and  what  tho'  all 
you  anticipate,  and  thousands  more  should  be  real- 
ized ;  a  covenant  God  can  and  will  sustain  you  under 
them,  and  make  you  triumphant  over  them.  Some 
of  you,  probably,  like  many  who  have  gone  before, 
will  be  called  at  noon ;  called  from  the  field  of  labour 
and  conflict,  to  the  mansion  of  repose ;  and  from  the 
scorching  sun  of  persecution  and  tribulation,  to  the 
inexhaustible  fountain  of  living  waters.  For  Zion's 
sake,  however,  it  is  desirable  that  many,  and,  if  a- 
greeable  to  the  Divine  purpose,  all  of  you  might  be 
continued  "  to  a  good  old  age"  in  the  church  below. 
Nor  should  the  prospect  thereof  discourage  you ;  for 
human  life,  at  its  greatest  length,  is  likened  but  to 
a  span,  and  its  rapidity  to  that  of  a  weaver's  shuttle. 
How  soon  will  it  have  past  away  !  remember  then 
my  dear  young  brethren  and  sisters,  that  soon  you  will 
be  viewed  as  the  fathers  and  mothers  in  this  our  Israel ; 
and  consequently,  that  soon  the  care  and  government 
of  this  church  will  devolve  upon  you.  Under  this  im- 
pression, permit  me  to  exhort  you  to  be  much  enga- 
ged in  searching  the  Scriptures,  and  in  praying  to 
God  for  an  understanding  of  them,  that  you  may  pos- 
sess the  requisite  knowledge  of  doctrine  and  discipline  ; 
also  that  you  study  to  keep  your  conversation  gar- 
ments unspotted,  to  be  grave,  sober-minded,  kindly 
nffeclioncd,  and  yet  faithful  one  to  another  ;  that  you 
endeavour  to  learn  by  the  sufferings  and  deliverances 
of  this  church, which  you  have  witnessed  ;  and  by  the 


steady,  uniform  and  scriptural  course  of  discipline 
which  she  has  pursued  :  that  so,  in  knowledge,  in  pu- 
rity, and  in  faithfulness,  you  may  he  examples,  to 
those  who  shall,  hereafter,  he  as  your  children  in 
ehurch  relation.  For  your  encouragement,  recollect 
that  at  every  stage  of  your  pilgrimage,  and,  finally, 
at  the  close  of  life  ;  it  will  l»e  your  privilege  as  well 
as  your  duty  to  say,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  ns. 

In  the  address  to  ancient  Israel,  already  noticed, 
it  is  not  only  asked,  Your  fathers,  where  are  they  ?" 
I>ut  also  "  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ?"  that  is 
Sn  this  world  ;  No  ;  so  neither  do  your  pastors  ;  your 
▼enerable  Gano  and  your  learned  Foster,  have  long 
since  laid  by  their  trumpets  and  received  their  crowns  ; 
and  the  period  is  advancing,  on  the  rapid  current  of 
time,  when  your  poor  servant  who  now  addresses  you. 
shall  also  finish  his  labours  and  bid  adieu  to  the  sanc- 
tuary of  God  on  earth.    He,   however,  who  hath 

obtained  gifts  for  men,"  and  who  hath  hitherto 
supplied  you,  can  supply  you  still ;  may  he  ever  fur- 
nish you  "  a  pastor  after  his  own  heart,  who  shall 
feed  you  with  knowledge  and  understanding  !" 

A  few  words  to  the  congregation. — Beloved  hearers, 
think,  O  think,  how  many  of  your  acquaintance 
who  once  attended  with  you  here,  have  gone  to  their 
eternal  home  ;  alas,  how  many  without  having  given 
any  evidence  of  regeneration  !  You  are  yet  spared  ; 
for  what  purpose  God  only  knows.  O  that  it  may 
yet  appear  to  have  been,  that  your  precious  souls 
might  so  hear  as  to  live !  Many  of  you  have  been 
attendants  here  from  early  life  ;  some  of  you  have 
attended  until  you  have  seen  your  children,  and,  in 
a  few  instances,  your  children's  children  attend  with 
you ;  yea  some  of  them  become  members  of  the 
church  \  but  still  (sad  consideration  !)  you  are  with- 


52 


out,  and  many  of  you,  it  is  to  be  feared,  are  still 
dead  in  sin.  May  God  that  quiekeneth  the  dead, 
make  you  ali  ve  to  himself,  and  fit  you  for  a  place  in 
the  spiritual  building!  Many  of  you,  both  old  and 
young,  have  been  abundantly  liberal  in  the  tempor- 
al k;,  of  this  church,  and  friendly  and  useful  under 
our  various  sufferings  ;  for  these  favours  please  to  ac- 
cept our  unfeigned  thanks,  and  permit  us  to  say,  we 
love  you  and  long  for  your  salvation.  O  that  you 
may  not  be  like  those  who  aided  in  the  labour  of 
building  the  ark.  and  yet  perished  in  the  flood  ! 

To  conclude  : — may  this  church  continue  parallel 
with  time  itself — may  she  ever  see  her  foes  disap- 
pointed and  her  friends  prospered — may  she  enjoy 
many  and  great  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit, — re- 
ceive into  her  bosom  frequent,  and  numerous  acces- 
sions of  the  Lord's  elect, — and,  on  her  way  to  heaven, 
participate  the  glory  of  the  liiillenial  kingdom.  At 
every  return  of  her  Jubilee,  may  her  pastor  con- 
tinue her  history  ;  and  may  every  succeeding  record 
contain  less  of  the  painful  and  more  of  the  pleasing; 
especially,  may  there  ever  be  found,  in  her  members, 
a  heart  to  say,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us  :  until 
**  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a 
«  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  with 
««  the  trump  of  God  f  '  and  then,  her  members  that 
shall  have  remained  on  earth  being  changed,  and 
those  that  shall  have  fallen  asleep  being  raised,  may 
she,  in  all  her  successive  generations  and  mingling  in 
the  general  assembly  of  the  Lord's  redeemed,  enter 
the  gates,  inherit  the  joys  and  assist  the  songs  of  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem  !  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus,  Anien. 
and  Amen. 


End  of  the  Scrmw, 


A  NARRATIVE 


TXTERSPERSED  WITH  REMARKS. 

AND  AN 

APPENDIX; 

ALL  RELATING  TO  THE  REPORTS  WHICH 
HAVE  GONE  ABROAD  CONCERNING 

WILLIAM  PARKINSON, 
Pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  the  City  cf  New-York: 

Showing  the  incredibility  of  the  said  Reports  and  so 
the  innocence  of  the  Church  in  retaining  him  in 
office,  those  Reports  notwithstanding. 


BY  THE  ACCUSED. 

The  lip  of  truth  shall  be  established forever ;  but  a  lying 
tongue  is  but  for  a  moment. — He  that  is  first  in  his  own  cause  f 
seemeth  just :  but  his  neighbour  cometh  and  scarcheth  him. 
Prov.  12.  19  &  18.  17. 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  PROPRIETOR. 
NEW-YORK: 

1813. 


PRE  FA  CE. 


THE  writer  of  the  following  Narrative,  is  well 
aware,  that,  generally,the  best  answer  that  can  be  giv- 
en to  slanderous  reports,  while  confined  to  conversa- 
tion, is  silent  contempt.  But  when  they  have  been 
made  the  grounds  of  public  prosecutions — especially* 
when,  as  in  relation  to  himself,  they  have  been  ac- 
companied with  a  great  show  of  circumstantial  evi- 
dence, stated  under  oath,  and  circulated  in  print,  the 
case  is  materially  and  manifestly  different.  Besides, 
in  the  testimony  received  on  the  prosecution  of  Mrs. 
Wintringham,  many  things  were  stated  which  had  no 
relation  to  the  matter  at  issue,  but  were  merely  inten- 
ded to  excite  the  prejudices  of  the  public  against  the 
accused  ;  and  therefore,  as  the  course  of  examination 
pursued  in  court,  did  not  always  draw  forth  all  the 
explanation  necessary  to  enable  the  reader  of  the  trial 
to  form  a  correct  opinion,  it  is  deemed  a  duty  to  give 
further  satisfaction  to  those  who  candidly  inquire  after 
truth.  It  has  also  frequently  been  said,  "  If  Parkin- 
*<  son  be  innocent,  why  docs  he  not  make  his  inno- 
f*  cence  to  appear,  by  some  publication  ?  But  that 
"  say  his  enemies,be  dares  not  attempt :  heknows,eon- 
66  tinue  they,  that  he  is  guilty — the  church  know  it  ; 
"and  both  he  and  they  are  afraid  to  come  to  the  light,55 
&c.  &c.  The  church  and  their  pastor,tho' not  so  hasty 
and  rash  as  their  petulentopposers,  may,  nevertheless, 
in  this  publication,  have  come  « to  the  light"  much  too 
soon  to  meet  the  wishes  of  those  who  have  abounded 
in  such  vaunting  challenges,  and,  possibly,  to  their 
great  mortification. 


li 


PREFACE. 


The  principal  cause,  however,  of  this  publication  is> 
that  since  the  trials  in  court,  much  care  has  been  ta- 
ken, by  the  enemies  of  the  accused  and  the  church  he 
serves,  to  circulate  unfair  representations,  and  these 
under  the  sanction  of  persons  whose  general  charac- 
ter is  such  as  gives  them  weight,  and  who  are  willing 
that  such  representations  should  be  made  though  they 
are,  themselves,  afraid  openly  t6  assert  the  things  re- 
presented, and  ashamed  to  own  the  publications  that 
have  been  made  of  them.  Should  not  such  works  of 
deception  and  darkness  be  exposed  ?  should  not  their 
effects,  as  levelled  against  a  minister  and  a  church  of 
Christ,  be  counteracted  ?  The  accused  and  his  friends 
are  persuaded  that  they  should  and  which,  in  the  fol- 
lowing Narrative,  is  accordingly  done,  by  a  statement 
of  undeniable  facts  :  showing  that  the  said  persons, 
however  high  in  the  estimation  of  anj,  have  been  so 
inconsistent  in  their  proceedings,  and  so  deficient  in 
christian  candor,  as  to  have  forfeited  all  claim  to 
public  respect  and  confidence,  in  these  matters. 

Some,  indeed,  of  those  who  have  been  engaged  a- 
gainst  the  First  Church  and  its  pastor*  do,  since  hear- 
ing that  this  publication  was  designed,  in  behalf  of 
those  with  whom  they  had  acted,  express  a  desire 
that  all  controversy  should  cease  :  "  Let  the  matter 
now  sleep,"  say  they.  What  a  pity  they  did  not  say 
so,  immediately  after  the  inventors  of  those  slanderous 
stories  had  exerted  their  own  puny  influence,  without 
success.  How  much  to  be  lamented,  that,  at  least, 
after  the  public  trials,  t!iey  did  not  come  to  that  con- 
clusion— that  tliey  did  not  then  say:.  Seeing  his  church 
has  investigated  the  charges,  and  are  satisfied  that 
they  are  false  ;  and  seeing,  moreover,  that  a  jury  of 
his  country,  after  hearing  all  tL:"  evidence,  from 
every  quarter,  that  could  be  produced,  have  pro- 


PREFACE. 


iii 


uouuced  him  not  guilty,  we  will  give  up  the  opposi- 
tion,— ««  let  the  matter  sleep."  But  not  so  ;  an  at- 
tempt was  next  made  to  prejudice  the  Association, 
not  only  against  the  accused,  hut  the  church  also  for 
retaining  him.  The  Association,  however,  on  receiv- 
ing from  the  church  a  representation  of  how  they  Siad 
investigated  and  decided  on  the  charges,  agreed  that 
their  conduct  had  been  correct ;  that  they  had  confi- 
dence in  their  acts,  and  retained  them  and  their  pas- 
tor in  full  fellowship.  Dissatisfied  with  the  decis- 
ions of  the  Association,  the  messengers  from  four 
churches,  in  behalf  of  their  respective  churches, 
took  dismissions.  But  these  churches,  it  should  be 
recollected,  were  not  of  those  which  first  constituted 
the  New-Ydrk  Association  ;  nor  yet  of  those  which 
at  an  early  period  of  its  existence  became  united 
with  it.  See  sermon  p.  16.  On  the  contrary,  both 
the  church  at  Mount-Pleasant,  and  that  now  called 
the  Fayette  street  church,  in  New- York,  were  ori- 
ginally opposed  to  having  an  Association  formed  in 
this  city  :  the  church  in  Mulberry  street,being young, 
seems  to  have  been  much  under  the  control  of  their 
pastor,  and  who  was  manifestly  so  determined  on 
having  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  disgraced,  at 
least,  if  not  removed,  that  it  is  to  be  feared  he  went 
great  lengths  to  effect  his  object :  and  as  to  the 
church  at  Poughkeepsie,  (and  which  is  also  young,) 
it  is  questioned  whether  they  had  given  to  their  mes- 
sengers any  authority  to  ask  a  dismission,  and  whe- 
ther, even  now,  they  will  abide  by  their  act. 

Nor  must  it  be  any  longer  concealed  that  the  First 
Church  and  their  pastor  are,by  various  circumstances, 
fully  convinced,  thatprcviousfo  all  the  rumours,  w  hich 
have  been  made  the  apparent  and  immediate  cause  of 
open  opposHjon  to  them,  there  existed  secret  and 

H 


IV 


PREFACE. 


predisposing  causes  in  the  feelings  of  many  of  their 
brethren  belonging  to  the  above  named  churches. 
It  is  well  known,  that  the  pastors  of  Fayette  st. 
Mulberry  st.  and  Mount-Pleasant  churches,  particu- 
larly the  two  latter,  materially  differ  from  the  pastor 
of  the  First  Church  in  views  of  doctrine  :  they  had 
considered  the  sentiments  of  the  accused  as  unfavour- 
able to  morality  ;  and  therefore,  even  admitting  them 
to  be  honest  in  their  professed  belief  of  the  reports 
concerning  him,  it  must  be  obvious  to  all,  that  their 
prior  opinion  of  his  principles,  had  predisposed  them 
to  that  belief:  moreover,  as  the  accused  is  the  only 
pastor,  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  in  the  city,  wha 
holds  and  defends  the  doctrines  which  constitute  what 
has  been  called  Old  Birinilij,*  in  opposition  to  every 
new  and  accommodating  system ;  they  were  well 
aware,  that  if  the  opinion  could  be  made  to  prevail 
that  he  is  himself  an  immoral  man,  it  would  not  only 
destroy  his  influence,  but  also  afford  ground  for  a 
strong  presumption  (particularly  among  the  unthink- 
ing multitude)  that  the  doctrines  he  teaches,  have  a 
demoralizing  tendency ;  and  so  they  would  get  rid 
at  once  (and  by  a  very  short  method  too)  of  a  system 
which  they  cannot  disprove,  and  of  a  man  who,  in 
the  defence  of  it,  has  stood  much  in  their  way.  And 
as  the  people  who  sit  under  a  man's  ministry,  are 
supposed,  generally,  to  believe  his  doctrines,  espe- 
cially among  the  Baptists,  where  a  church  may  dis- 
miss their  pastor  at  pleasure,  so  the  people  of  Gold 

'*  It  is  remarkable,  that  some  of  those  who  in  Dr.  Fos- 
ter's time,  made  a  great  outcry  against  what  was  then  called 
New-Divinity i  and  were  either  excluded  or  dismissed  from 
the  First  Church  on  that  account,  have  since  embraced  the 
same  sentiments  under  another  name,  and  have  disliked 
the  present  pastor  of  the  First  Church  for  defending  the 
old  system.    See  sermon  p.  23. 


PREFACE.  v 

street  may  reasonably  have  been  supposed  to  believe, 
generally,  the  sentiments  of  their  pastor  ;  and  which 
sufficiently  accounts  for  the  readiness  with  which  the 
opposers  of  the  accused,  imputed  to  the  church  he 
serves,  the  crime  of  covering  his  sins. 

As  this  supposed  unison  of  sentiment  between  a 
pastor  and  the  people  of  his  charge,  is  applicable  in 
one  case,  so  in  others  ;  and  which  suggests  the  pro- 
priety of  introducing  the  following  evidence  of  pre- 
possession against  the  accused)  i"  the  Fayette  street 
church  :  after  the  slanderous  reports  concerning  him 
had  gone  abroad,  Mr.  Henry  Miller,  a  member  of 
Fayette  street,  being  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Skellorn, 
a  member  of  the  First  Church,  and  in  conversation 
about  the  accused,  Mrs.  S.  asked  him,  Are  these 
reports  about  Mr.  Parkinson,  the  first  cause  why 
the  members  of  your  church  dislike  him  ?  To  which 
Mr.  M.  replied,  "  No — they  disliked  him  before,  on 
account  of  his  principles. "    That  dislike  of  the  ac- 
cused, for  the  same  reason,  was  felt  by  many  members 
of  the  church  in  Mulberry  st.  is  so  well  known,  as  not 
to  require  any  additional  proof.    In  the  church  at 
Mount-Pleasant,  there   was    not  only  disaffection 
to  the  accused,  on  account  of  doctrines,  but  moreover, 
some  time  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  late 
rumours,  two  members  of  that  church,  and  who,  from 
wealth  and  other  considerations  have  much  influence 
in  that  small  society,  took  great  offence  at  him,  for  an 
exposition,  which  he  gave  in  their  hearing,  of  some 
prophecies,  which  he  considered  as  threatening  the 
downfall  of  all  national  monarchies,  and,  consequently, 
of  their  favourite  one,  that  of  G  reat  Britain.  On  this 
account,  one  at  least  of  them  was  heard  to  talk  of  not 
hearing  him  preach  any  more.  *    The  accused  is,  by 

How  astonishing  is  it,  that  native  Americans  and  heir? 


PREFACE. 


no  means,  in  the  habit  of  introducing  politics  into  his 
pulpit,  yea  is  much  opposed  to  the  practice  ;  never- 
theless, his  views  of  Scripture,  he  feels  under  in- 
dispensable obligations  to  give  ;  nor  can  he,  under  a 
free  government,  in  condescension  to  any  man  or 
party,  consent  to  deny  himself  of  that  right. 

Having  noticed  some  of  the  predisposing  causes  to 
the  great  opposition  which  has  been  made  to  the  ac- 
cused and  the  church  he  serves,  and  the  last  mention- 
ed instance,  in  some  measure,  leading  thereto,  it  is 
thought  a  duty  to  add  one  of  a  more  general  nature,and 
which  has  a  more  extensive  influence  ;  to  wit,  that  of 
national  partialities.    This  is  introduced  with  great 
reluctance,   the  writer  well  knowing,   that  God, 
"  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to 
dwell  on  the  face  of  the  earth,"  (Acts  17.  26.)  and 
thai  believers  of  all  nations  »•  are  all  one  in  Christ:' 
(Gal.  3.  28.)  seeing,  however,  that,  in  our  fallen  state, 
we  are  so  much  under  the  influence  of  depravity  and 
ignorance,  as  to  fancy  that  there  are  excellencies  pe- 
culiar to  the  people  and  habits  of  our  respective  na- 
tions; and  it  being  evident,  that  this  fancy  has  large- 
ly contributed  to  the  prepossession  of  many  against 
the  First  Baptist  church  in      York  and  their  pastor, 
it  could  not  be  passed  over  in  silence.  Americans, 
it  is   admitted,   have    their  national  partialities  ; 
and  justly  feel  a  high  sense  of  their  distinguishing 
privileges,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical;  nevertheless, 
the  candid  of  all  nations,  will  acknowledge  tliat  the 
American  government  has  made  the  most  generous 
provisions,  for  the  reception  and  accommodation  of 
foreigners,  and  that  the  American  churches,  of  all 

of  liberty,  both  civil  and  religious,should  be  so  much  in  love 
with  a  government  tending  to  bondage  and  oppression  !  * 


PREFACE. 


denominations,  have  ever  gladly  received  and  affec- 
tionately treated,  their  brethren  from  abroad.  These 
kind  attentions — the  blessings  of  freedom,  and  the 
bounties  of  a  productive  country,  they  seem,  at  first, 
to  enjoy  with  gratitude  :  many  of  them,  however,  in 
a  short  time,  begin  to  disgust  us  with  pompous  repre- 
sentations of  the  great  comparative  excellence  of  men 
and  things  in  the  countries  from  which  they  came. 
That  in  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain,  (and  to  them 
these  remarks  allude)  God  hath  been  pleased,  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  to  raise  up  many  great  men  ; — great 
statesmen  and  great  churchmen ;  and  of  the  latter 
some  among  several  of  the   different  denominations 
of  christians  there  ;  men  eminent  in  grace  and  gifts, 
in  learning  and  in  biblical  knowledge  ;  men  whose 
public  labours,  in  their  respective  generations,  were 
remarkably  attended  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  whose  writings  remain  an  abundant  source  of 
instruction  and  comfort,both  to  ministers  and  private 
christians  who  have  access  to  them,  is  known  and 
acknowledged  throughout  Christendom;  as  also  that 
the  church  of  God  in  those  dominions  enjoys  some 
such  men  now:  it  is  likewise  readily  admitted,  that  a 
few  men  of  undoubted  piety,  and  of  considerable  tal- 
ents and  acquirements,  have  been  thence  transferred 
to  this  country,  and  who  have  been  acceptable  and 
useful  here:  -neither  is  it  disputed,  that  among  the 
common  people  w  ho  have  come  hither  from  those 
dominions,  some  who  were  professors  of  religion  be- 
fore they  came,  and  others  who  have  made  a  profes- 
sion since  their  arrival,  have  been  orderly,  peace- 
able and  agreeable  members  of  the  churches  with 
which,  severally,  they  have  been  connected  :  never- 
theless it  is  a  notorious  fact,  that,  generally  speak- 
ing, the  emigrant sjfrom  Great  Britain  to  this  country, 


PREFACE. 


Jiave  come  under  very  erroneous  impressions, — they 
have  come  inflated  with  notions  of  their  own  great 
superiority  of  talent  and  knowledge ;  and,  consequent- 
ly, have  soon  assumed  a  tone  of  unwarrantable  and 
afFroutful  dictation.  These  notions  are  discovered 
^nd  disliked  in  them,  even  with  respect  to  the  com- 
mon employments  of  civil  life  ;  as  they  manifestly 
consider  Americans,  whether  Merchants,  Mechanics, 
or  Farmers,  as,  by  no  means  upon  a  par  with  them, 
either  in  genius  or  information  ;  but  they  chiefly  ap- 
pear, and  are  chiefly  offensive  and  pernicious,  in  re- 
lation to  ministerial  qualifications  and  ecclesiastical 
government ;  hence  those  of  them,  who  are  preach- 
ers, cannot  admit  the  idea,  nor  can  their  national 
brethren  admit  it,  that  men  whom  God  hath  been 
pleased  to  raise  up  in  America,  should  stand  on  a 
level  with  them,  particularly,  not  that  they  should 
in  any  instance,  be  preferred  before  them ;  and 
those  of  them  who  are  but  private  professors  of  reli- 
gion, even  admitting  them  to  be  real  christians,  are 
so  infatuated  with  those  notions  as  to  fancy,  that 
churches  here,  must  learn  from  them  the  sense  of 
Scripture  in  matters  of  discipline.  These  erroneous 
ideas,  entertained  by  our  brethren  from  abroad,  have 
long  been  the  occasion  of  much  uneasiness  and  diffi- 
culty in  the  American  churches  ;  and,  if  not  seasona- 
bly checked,  must  be  the  occasion  of  much  more> 
especially  in  cities,  where  foreigners  abound,  and  in 
Baptist  churches,  where  business  is  decided  by  a  ma- 
jority of  all  the  members. 

To  the  sentiments  now  advanced,  respecting  nation- 
al partialities  and  their  effects,  no  man  has  ever  had  a 
greater  aversion,  than  had  the  accused,  when  he  first 
settled  in  this  city.  Being  sensible  that  they  are  ut- 
terly inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  the  Gospel  and 


PREFACE. 


the  tendency  of  experimental  religion,  he  could  not 
believe  that  they  existed  among  christians ;  he  was 
shocked  at  only  hearing  them  mentioned,  and  set  his 
face  against  them  both  in  the  pulpit  and  in  private  cir- 
cles r  since,  however,  he  has  learned,  by  painful  expe- 
rience, that  the  opinion  which  he  had  often  heard  ex- 
pressed by  old  and  experienced  ministers  and  other 
christians,  on  the  subject,  was  but  too  well  founded. 

Now,  whereas,  in  each  of  the  four  churches  which 
left  the  Association,  there  are  some  members,  and, 
in  those  of  the  city,  a  large  majority,  who  felt  one 
or  more,  and  some  of  them  all  these  predisposing 
causes,  it  is  but  reasonable  to  conclude,  that  on  this 
account,  they  found  it  much  more  convenient  than 
otherwise  they  would,  to  admit  the  reports  concern- 
ing the  accused  to  be  true.  How  else  can  it  be  ac- 
counted for,  that  they  (at  least  many  members  of 
them)  believe  the  reports,  while  the  church  which 
more  immediately  investigated  them,  and  other 
churches  though  equally  acquainted  with  all  the  cir- 
cumstances *  do  not  believe  them. 

But,  to  proceed  :  the  decisions  of  the  Association 
and  the  dismission  of  the  dissatisfied  churches,  hav- 
ing taken  place,  how  deeply  is  it  to  be  regretted,  that, 
even  then,  the  opposers  had  not  the  wisdom  to  discon- 
tinue their  efforts, — the  wisdom  to  say,  "  Now  let 
the  matter  sleep  but  they  had  not;  for  while  the 
meaner  class  (such  as  have  no  reputation  to  lose) 
were  constantly  harassing  the  accused,  with  anony- 
mous letters ;  and,  at  every  opportunity,  insulting  him 
in  the  street,  those  of  better  standing  in  society, 
were  using  measures  to  have  the  matter  agitated  iu 
other  Associations ;  and  finally,  "  the  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  churches  in  Fayette,  Mulberry,  Budd 

*  Even  with  all  the  aggravations  of  the  Hypocrite  op- 
masked. 


PREFACE. 


and  Rose  streets,"  [see  Narative  p.  42]  to  inquire  a£ 
ter,  and  collect  the  charges  exhibited  against  the  ac- 
cused, sent  out  into  the  world,  the  filth  and  froth  of 
their  labours,  in  a  pamphlet,  which  they  were  either 
afraid  or  ashamed  to  own,  and  that  accompanied  with 
a  threat  of  succeeding  numbers.  Now,  having  done 
all  in  their  power  to  injure  the  First  Church  and  its 
pastor,  when  they  are  likely  to  be  exposed,  they  say, 
by  their  friends,  "  Let  the  matter  sleep."  But  their 
request  comes  too  late  ;  the  accused  and  the  church, 
are  always,  on  proper  acknowledgements,  ready  to 
forgive ;  but  to  expect  them  to  submit  to  lie  under 
gross,  injurious,  and  uncontradicted  misrepresenta- 
tion, is  unscriptural  and  unreasonable. 

Indeed,  since  the  Narrative  was  prepared  for  the 
press,  the  accused  mentioned  to  some  of  his  friends, 
that,  seeing  it  necessarily  includes  so  much  exposure 
of  character,  he  thought  it  expedient,  charitably, 
to  suspend,  for  the  present,  the  publication  of  it,  giv- 
ing notice  at  the  end  of  the  sermon,  that  such  a  Narra- 
tive is  prepared,  but  that  if  his  enemies  and  those  of 
the  church  would  cease  from  their  scurrilities  and 
other  means  of  insult  and  injury,  it  should  never  ap- 
pear ;  his  friends  approved  of  his  intention  :  but  im- 
mediately thereupon,  he  was  insulted  by  letters  anon- 
ymous and  otherwise,  threatening,  not  only  with 
additional  publications  respecting  the  crimes  said  to 
have  been  committed  in  this  city,  but  also  of  what 
they  presume  to  call  "  A  catalogue  of  facts  collected 
to  the  South  which  convinced  the  accused  that 
his  enemies  were  determined  to  persevere  in  their  a- 
buse  j  and  that  their  meanness  and  bitterness  were 
such,  that  his  charitable  ilesign,  if  pursued,  would 
be  construed  and  published  as  an  evidence  that  he  is 


PREFACE. 


XI 


conscious  that  his  Narrative  is  fatsc,  and  that  he  is 
afraid  to  hazard  ttie  publication  of  it.  Insinuations 
also  have  been  given,  that,  should  he  publish  it,  he 
might  expect  to  be  prosecuted  for  libellous  matter,  &c. 
The  Narrative,  therefore,  of  necessity  must  appear ; 
and  however  severely  the  facts  stated  in  it  may  sting 
the  consciences  of  the  guilty,  and  however  plainly 
they  may  expose  their  improper  conduct,  they  must, 
nevertheless,  themselves  be  sensible,  that  many 
things  have  been  omitted  which  they  would  have  been 
very  so^rry  to  have  seen  in  print. 

Whereas  some  christians  and  other  well  meaning 
persons,  may,  from  a  desire  of  peace,  feel  a  wish 
that  this  publication  had  not  occurred,  they  are  de- 
sired to  consider  the  following  things. 

1.  That  many  of  those  who,  to  them,  appear  fair 
and  friendly,  and  seem  to  be  very  religiously  dispo- 
sed, are,  notwithstanding,  abetting  and  sanctioning, 
in  one  way  or  another,  the  opposition  to  the  accused 
and  the  church  he  serves. 

2.  That  it  is  not  merely  nor  even  mainly,  on  ac- 
count of  the  citizens  of  New-York,  that  this  repre- 
sentation is  made  ;  for  it  is  considered  that  the  con- 
scientious among  them,  have  it  in  their  power  to 
avail  themselves  of  other  means  to  obtain  satisfac- 
tion :  but  the  reports  concerning  the  accused,  not 
only  as  contained  in  the  printed  trial,  but  also  by 
letters,  anonymous  publications,  &e.  have  been  sent 
into  all  parts  of  the  union,  and  even  to  Europe,  where- 
by, many  (tho*  honestly)  are  prejudiced,  or  at  least 
in  doubt,  merely  for  want  of  further  information. 

3.  That  altho'  all  believers,  as  noticed  already, 
are  "  one  in  Christ,''  and  altho'  all  members  of  a 
church  are  entitled  to  christian  affection  and  respect, 
in  their  proper  places,  and  are,  individually,  of  some 

I 


xii 


PREFACE. 


consequence  to  the  common  reputation  of  religion,  in 
the  cities  or  neighbourhoods  where  they  reside,  as 
their  characters  may  adorn  or  disgrace  their  profes- 
sion ;  yet  that  there  is  a  material  difference  in  the 
weight  and  influence  of  a  public  teacher  and  of  pri- 
vate professors,  and,  therefore,  in  the  comparative 
clfectsofa  slanderous  attack  upon  them:  of  course 
it  may,  in  some  instances,  be  just  and  necessary  for 
a  gospel  minister  to  make  a  public  defence,  when,  for 
a  private  professor,  it  would  not,  tho'  under  similar 
imputations.   In  the  case  of  the  accused*,  moreover^ 
flie  difference  of  consideration,  among  the  churches 
of  Christ,  between  him  and  his  accusers,  must  be 
obvious  to  all  :  the  women  who  have  accused  him, 
tho'  rescued  from  entire  obscurity,  by  a  temporary 
connexion  with  the  church  and  an  alleged  attention 
to  them  by  the  pastor,  were  before  unknown,  except 
in  a  few  families,  and  most  of  them  there,  only  in 
the  capacity  of  servants ;  and  the  men  also,  who  have 
been  their  principal  supporters,  were  scarcely  heard 
of,  beyond  the  limits  of  New-York,  until  the  printed 
trial  of  the  accused  gave  their  names  a  currency. 
Not  so  the  accused  :  for,  although  he  makes  no  pre- 
tensions  to   superiority  of  talent,  much  less  to 
great  extent  of  acquirements,  having  had,  in  this 
respect,  but  small  advantages;  nevertheless  it  had 
be^n  the  pleasure  of  God,  not  only  to  call  him  by  his 
grace,  and  to  put  him  into  the  gospel  ministry,  but  also, 
considerably,  to  extend  his  acquaintance,  among  the 
churches  of  the  saints,  and  to  give  him  a  friendly  re- 
ception among  the  people,  generally,  wherever  he 
went:  as  a  preacher,  he  was  known,  personally, 
throughout  several  of  the  states,  and,  by  character, 
throughout  all  of  them:  his  circle  of  acquaintances, 
friends,  and  correspondents,  was  numerous  and  re- 


PREFACE. 


xiii 


spectable,  both  among  professors  and  others :  his 
character,  therefore,  was  important,  not  only  to  him- 
self and  family,  but  also  to  the  denomination  of  chris- 
tians, at  large,  with  which  he  stands  connected,  and 
even  (like  that  of  every  professor,  particularly  of 
every  gospel  minister)  to  the  cause  of  religion  in  ge- 
neral.* Many,  both  in  the  church  and  in  the  world, 
both  public  and  private  characters,  must  be  in  sus- 
pense, and,  the  godly  among  them, in  painful  suspense, 
about  a  man  whom  they  had  esteemed  and  of  whom 
they  had  spoken  .veil :  can  it  then,  reasonably,  be 
doubted  that  it  is  his  duty,  to  tender,  to  them,  this 
means  of  information  and  relief? 

It  will  perhaps  be  asked  by  some,  Does  not  this 
publication  shut  up  the  door  against  all  future  recon- 
ciliation between  the  First  Church  and  its  pastor,  and 
their  brethren  opposed  to  them  ?  We  answer,  No  :  for, 
if  we  can  be  convinced  that,  in  any  instance  our  in- 
formation, and  therefore  our  statement,  is  incorrect, 
we  shall,  with  respect  to  such  matter,  gladly  ac- 
knowledge our  mistake;  and,  although  fully  persuad- 
ed, that  the  representation  given  of  our  grievances,  is 
just,  and,  for  present  defence,  necessary,  yet  when- 
ever our  offending  brethren  shall  have  acknowledged 
their  fault,  in  the  unscriptural  measures  which  they 
have  taken  against  us,  such  of  them  as  we  may  be 
enabled  to  consider  christians,  we  shall  joyfully  re- 
ceive into  union  and  fellowship. 

The  accused,  as  he  has  endeavoured,  ia  relation 
to  all  the  ill  treatment  received,  to  maintain  the  dig- 
nity of  a  man,  as  well  as  the  moderation  of  a  christian, 

*  Why  was  not  his  character  as  valuable,  at  least,  as  that 
©f  any  of  those  ministers  who  Inve  aided  in  the  common 
effort  to  ruin  him  ? 


xiv 


PREFACE. 


lias  no  disposition  to  descend  to  meanness  now;*  and 
therefore  his  opposers  may  be  assured,  that  no  terms 

*  Mere  allusion  is  had,  to  the  mean  and  ill  designed  mea- 
sures that  have  been  taken  heretofore;  and  which,  by  mis- 
representation, have  been  rendered  the  means  of  prejudicing 
many  against  the  accused,  as  supposing  him  to  have  shrunk 
from  investigation,  and  so  to  have  given  evidence  of  guilt. 
Among  the  measures  alluded  to  are  the  following  : 

1.  The  meeting  at  Mcintosh's.  See  Narrative. 

2.  Before  the  commencement  of  the  Wintringham  prose- 
cution, a  self-created  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  W  i'- 
Jiams,  Maclay,  Wyekoflf  and  others,  among  whom  were 
Leonard  Eleecker  and  Br.  Mcintosh,  then  in  a  state  of  ex- 
communication from  the  First  Lhurch,  met  at  the  hou^e  of 
Maclay.  That  Bleecker  and  Mcintosh  were  of  the  said 
committee,  and  that  they  were  the  first  who  came,  was 
ascertained,  by  a  member  of  the  First  Church,  residing  next 
door  to  ?,laclay's,  and  who  saw  all  the  men  who  assembled 
there  on  that  occasion.  A  brother,  who  had  himself  been 
so  far  deceived  by  the  party  as  to  have  met  with  them,  and 
whose  name,  on  this  account,  is  omitted,  came,  delegated 
by  the  others,  to  the  accused,  requesting  him  to  meet 
the  said  committee,  that  an  investigation  of  the  reports 
might  he  had,  and  to  see  whether  he  could  give  them 
satisfaction.  The  accused,  well  knowing  that  all  of  the 
committee,  named  to  him,  by  their  delegate,  had  already 
decided  against  him,  and  that  they  were  using  their  in- 
fluence to  proselyte  others  to  their  opinion,  on  the  sub- 
ject, must  have  acted  like  an  idiot,  had  he  acceded  to 
the  proposal;  moreover,  knowing  that  they  had  admit- 
ted the  two  excommunicated  men  above  mentioned,  into 
their  council,  and  believing  that  they  were  to  be  of  the 
committee,  which  he  was  requested  to  meet,  he  considered, 
that,  for  him  to  meet  them,  would  be  inconsistent  with  every 
rule  of  pro  riety;  besides,  he  felt  fully  convinced  that  the 
whole  affair,  like  the  meeting  at  Mcintosh's,  was  nothing 
but  a  trar>,  baited  with  specious  pretensions  of  an  expedient 
for  reconciliation  :  under  these  impressions,  he  refused  to  go. 
Whether  his  refusal  to  meet  a  committee  of  that  description, 
was  sliripking  from  investigation,  and  so  evidence  of  guilt, 
the  public  are  left  to  judge. 

2.  If  a  similar  nature,  though  on  a  more  extensive  scale 
and  with  a  greater  show  of  plausibility,  was  the  proposal  of 
having  the  matter  decided  by  a  committee  to  be  appointed 


PREFACE. 


xv 


of  accommodation,  but  such  as  are  scriptural,  and 
therefore,  (among  christians,)  honourable,  will  be  ac- 
ceded to  by  him. 

by  the  Association.  This  committee  was  to  consist,  chieflyi 
of  brethren  from  a  distance,  that  so  it  might  have  the  ap- 
pearance and  receive  the  character  of  an  impartial  court. 
But  who  were  these  brethren  from  a  distance  to  be  ?  They 
were  to  be  men  whom  the  opposing  party  in  the  Association, 
and  others  in  the  city,  had  previously  i:iied  with  prejudice 
against  the  man  who  was  to  be  tried,  and  who  were  aiready 
known  to  be  of  that  description ;  particularly  David  Irish 
was  to  iie  one,  though  the  common  associate  of  the  excom- 
municated IVIcIntosft  and  Bleecker,  and  who,  wherever  he 
went,  was  endeavouring  to  male  the  im  ression,  that  the 
accused  was  guilty  of*  the  crimes  alleged  against  him,  and 
that  the  church,  if  they  retained  him,  must  inevitably  come 
to  ruin.  The  accused,  notwithstanding  all  these  unfavour- 
able circumstances,  was  willing,  and,  (as  many  of  his  breth- 
ren well  know,)  frequently,  before  the  Association  convened, 
caressed  a  desire  that  a  committee  should  be  appointed  and 
his  case  submitted  to  it;  for  he  was  assured,  that,  unless  the 
members  of  such  committee  should  be  totally  devoid  of can- 
dor  and  reflection,  on  hearing  the  evidences,  then  rend;  to 
be  exhibited,  of  the  falsehood  of  his  accusers,  they  must  e 
convinced,  that  they  were  utterly  unworthy  of  credit,  and  so 
acquit  him  ;  also  he  considered  that  the  clamor  of  those  who 
represented  him  as  afraid  of  investigation  would,  thereby,  be 
silenced:  the  church,  however,  sensible  that  it  would  1  e  an 
infringement  of  their  independence — that  it  would  be  an  ex- 
ercise of  nower  which  the  Association  does  not  possess,  and 
that,  as  a  precedent,  it  might  be  attended  with  very  per- 
nicious consequences,  would  not  consent. 

Thai  the  Association  h  is  no  power  to  appoint  a  commit- 
tee to  interfere  with  the  discipline  of  a  church,  appears  from 
Art.  3  of  their  Plan,  <fcc.  printed  at  the  end  of  this  work. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  which  notice  is  taken  of  those  things  which  are  con- 
sidered, by  the  church  and  their  pastor,  as  having  procured 
their  troubles^  in  a  way  of  chastisement,  from  the  hand  of 
God. 

«  In  many  things,"  saith  James,  "  we  offend  all 
nor  do  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  New- York  and 
their  pastor,  hesitate  to  unite  with  all  saints  in  that 
acknowledgment :  but,  certainly,  the  Apostle  did  not 
mean,  that  he  and  the  believers  he  addressed,  had, 
since  their  profession  of  discipleship  to  Christ,  been 
guilty  of  gross  sins  ;  neither  do  we  mean,  that  our 
offences  have  been  of  that  kind.  Nevertheless,  we 
have  offended ;  we  have  done  so,  probably,  in  enter- 
taining too  high  an  esteem  for  each  other :  the  pas- 
tor is  conscious,  that  he  has,  at  times,  spoken  of  the 
people  of  his  charge,  in  terms  of  approbation,  which 
may  have  given  offence  to  members  of  other  church- 
es ;  and,  some  members  of  the  church  have.occasion- 
ally,  given  such  marks  of  their  preference  of  him, 
as  a  preacher,  as  may  have  grieved  other  and  wor- 
thy ministers.  This,  however,  was  chiefly  done,  by 
those  who  have  since  become  his  bitterest  enemies. 

The  pastor  is  sensible,  that  he  offended  against  the 
Fayette  St.  Church,  in  having  given  his  countenance, 
and,  in  some  measure,  his  support,  to  a  man  whom 
they  had  excluded,  under  the  charge  of  holding  er- 
roneous principles.*    The  man,  it  is  true,  deceived 

#  John  Inglesby ;  deceased.  What,  in  particular,  the 
doctrines  were,  for  holding  which,  the  Fayette  Street 


INTRODUCTf&N. 


xvii 


iii m,  by  a  false  representation  of  his  sentiments  :# 
but  he  ought  to  have  known  from  that  church,  what 
the  doctrines  were,  for  which  they  had  u put  him 
away,"  and  not  to  have  credited  the  report  of  an  ex- 
communicated person. f 

The  church,  in  like  manner,  offended  against  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church  in  the  city,  by  receiving,  as 
a  member,  a  man  whom  that  church  had  suspended 
from  her  communion,:):  and  another  who,  though  not 
formally  proceeded  against,  was  in  doubtful  stand- 
Church  excluded  him,  the  writer  has  not  yet  learned : 
however,  in  the  course  of  acquaintance  had  with  Mm,  he 
found  him  to  hold  the  following  sentiments,  which  he  deems 
erroneous,  viz ;  That  the  elect  were  never  under  the  curse; 
but,  if  never  under  it,  how  could  they  have  deen  redeemed 
from  it  ?  see  Gal.  3.  13.also  Rom.  5.  18  :  2.  That  Christ  was 
not  made  under  the  law ;  contrary  to  Gal.  4.  4,  5  :  3.  That 
Christ  did  not  observe  the  preceptive  part  of  the  law,  and, 
therefore,  that  his  obedience  in  life,  makes  no  part  of  that 
righteousness  which  is  imputed  to  his  people  for  justifica- 
tion; and  which  the  writer  considers  contra?",  to  Matt.  5. 
17—19. 

*  He  represented,  that  the  Fayette  Street  Church  had 
excluded  him,  for  holding  the  same  principles  which  the 
writer  holds ;  and  the  writer,  knowing  that  many  members 
of  that  church  and  even  their  pastor,  considerably  differ 
from  him  on  some  points  of  doctrine,  presumed  that  the  re- 
presentation might  be  true ;  therefore,  perceiving  him  to 
possess  some  gifts  for  public  speaking,  and  feeling  unwilling 
that  he  6hould  be  left  to  labour  in  a  state  of  excommunica- 
tion, he  took  those  measures  which  he  supposed  to  be  the 
most  likely  to  effect  a  reconciliation  between  him  and  the 
church  ;  that  so  they  might  grant  him  a  dismission. 

jll is  offence  against  the  Fayette  Street  Church,  the  wri- 
ter has  acknowledged  to  them,  in  a  letter,  which  was  de- 
livered to  Elder  John  Williams,  their  pastor,  with  a  request 
that  he  would  lay  it  before  the  church. 

|  Cornelius  P.  Wyckoff,  for  (as  understood)  attending  the 
ministry  of  an  excommunicated  man  [John  inglesby]  and 
for  advocating  his  sentiments. 


xviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


ing  ;*  for  although  the  said  men  assigned  a  eause, 
Very  different  from  that  assigned,  by  the  church  with 
which  they  were  connected,  why  there  had  been  so 
much  uneasiness  respecting  them  ;f  yet,  we  ought  to 
have  ascertained  from  the  church  they  were  leaving, 
what  the  errors  were,  which  they  were  accused  of 
holding,  also  what  evidence  there  was  that  they  did 
hold  them,  and  not  to  have  relied,  in  that  matter,  on 
the  word  of  the  men  themselves.:): 

The  writer  is,  moreover,  conscious  that,  in  the  ear- 
ly part  of  his  ministry,  he  was  too  ready  to  credit  ill 
reports  concerning  others  ;  especially,  when  such  re- 
ports came  from  professors  of  religion,  as  he  sup- 
posed, that  persons  of  that  description,  would  certain- 
ly not  depart  from  the  truth  ;  however,  on  a  further 

*  Leonard  Bleecker,  on  account  of  his  attending  the  same- 
ministry,  and  inclining  to  the  same  sentiments. 

f  They  represented,  that  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
were  dissatisfied  with  them  for  attending  the  ministry  of  Jn- 
glesby,  not  because  he  was  in  a  state  of  excommunication, 
hut  because  he  was  a  Baptist,  and  because  they  inclined  to 
the  views  of  the  Baptists,  respecting  the  ordinance  of  bap- 
tism ;  and,  therefore,  that  the  charges  against  them  were 
mere  pretences. 

J  Concerning  their  fault,  in  that  respect,  the  church  have 
made  a  suitable  communication  to  the  Consistory  of  the 
Dutch  Church. 

j^As  Mr.  Ingiesby  is  deceased,  and  as  Mr.  Wyckoff, 
more  than  three  years  ago,  was  dismissed  and  Mr.  Bleecker* 
about; two  years  ago,  was  excommunicated  from  the  church, 
the  above  notice  of  them  is  taken  with  the  greatest  reluc- 
tance; it  being  Well  known,  that,  to  attack  a  man's  senti- 
ments after  his  death,  may  be  construed  into  cowardice,  and 
that,  for  a  church  to  interfere  with  persons,  after  dismissed 
or  "  put  away1'  from  her,  may  be  understood,  by  them  arid 
others,  as  persecution  ;  but  it  must  be  obvious  to  every  dis- 
cerning and  candid  mind,  that  the  church  and  their  pastor, 
in  discharging  their  duty,  respectively,  to  he  Fayette  Street 
and  Dutch  Churches,  could  not  avoid  taking  such  notice  of 
the  said  men. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xix 


acquaintance  with  professors,  he  has  seen  abundant 
evidence,  that  there  are  many  who  profess  what  they 
do  not  possess  ;  and  that  such,  being  the  children  of 
the  Father  of  lies,  not  only  in  common  with  other 
unregenerate  sinners,  but  also  as  to  their  conversion, ^ 
they  are  capable  of  saying,  (and  even  confirming  by 
oath,)  almost  any  thing,  to  gratify  an  envious,  a  re- 
sentful, or  a  malicious  disposition.  While,  therefore, 
he  feels  the  truth  of  the  Divine  assertion,  "  with 
what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again,"  he  begs  his  brethren,  whose  minds  he  may, 
at  any  time,  have  distressed,  by  such  unwarrantable 
credulity,  to  ascribe  his  conduct  to  the  true  cause — a 
want  of  experience,  and  to  cover  his  offences,  thereby 
committed  against  them,  with  the  mantle  of  charity. 
See  1  Pet.  4,  8. 

The  troubles  which  the  church  and  their  pastor  have 
experienced,  in  consequence  of  their  offences,  they 
do  not  ascribe  to  their  credulous  brethren — to  their 
deceitful  enemies,  nor  even  to  Satan,  any  further  than 
as  they  have  been  instruments  in  the  hand  of  God ; 
who,  in  his  sovereignty,  does,  in  some  instances,  per- 
mit the  wicked — yea  the  wicked  one  himself,  to 
serve  as  his  rod,  in  chastising  his  saints  ;f  and  who* 
in  other  instances,  gives  up  his  own  children  to  such 
blindness,  that  they  fall  out  by  the  way — contend  who 
shall  be  the  greatest ,  and  so  distress  one  another. f. 
Nor  is  it  very  improbable,  that,  like  Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas, the  writer  and  some  of  his  brethren,  may 
never  meet,  in  fellowship,  again  on  earth  ;  neverthe- 
less, if  we  be  what  we  have  professed  to  be,  we  shall 

*  See  Matt.  12.  43— 45. 

f  2  Sam.  7.  14.  Micah  6.  9.  and  7.  8—10.  Psal.  17.  13, 
14.  and  64.  2,  3.  Prov.  25.  15.  Job  1.  12.  and  2,  6.  Rev. 
12.  10. 

J  Mark  9.  33.  3  1.  Acts  15.  2,  39.  Gal.  2.  11—13. 

K 


INTRODUCTION. 


mutually  forgive,  and,  when  we  shall  haye  arrived  at 
home,  shall  exult  together,  in  the  same  ocean  of  ever- 
lasting love. 

The  church  and  their  partor,  so  far  from  conceal- 
ing their  offences,  do  thus  openly  acknowledge  them, 
before  saints  and  sinners  :  yes,  w  We  have  sinned 
against  the  Lord  ff  and  he  hath,  in  righteousness  and 
faithfulness,  chastised  us :  we  do  not  complain  of  his 
dealings  ;  but  say,  with  ancient  Israel,  "  Thou  our 
God  hast  punished  us  less  than  our  iniquities  deserve, 
and  hast  given  us  such  deliverance  as  this  (Ezra 
OAS:)  we  view  it,  moreover,  as  an  evidence  of  his  love; 
*<  for  whom  the  Lord  loveth,  he  chasteneth,"  Heb.  12. 
6.  And  if  he  may  be  pleased,  by  these  means,  to 
produce,  in  us,  greater  watchfulness  and  circumspec- 
tion in  our  lives,  and  greater  caution  and  strictness  in 
acts  of  discipline, we  shall  have  abundant  cause  to  say, 
*<  It  hath  been  good  for  us  that  we  have  been  afflict- 
ed." 

While,  however,  we  view  these  visitations,  as  father- 
ly chastisements  from  the  hand  of  Godrand  as  sent  in 
great  mercy,  we  are,  notwithstanding,  compelled  to 
view  the  instruments,as  having  acted  from  wicked  mo- 
tives, and,  like  the  crucifiers  of  Christ,  as  having 
done  their  work  "  with  wicked  hands  also  the  sup- 
porters of  them,  as  influenced  by  the  unworthy  im- 
pulses of  jealousy  and  self-love,  or  a  mere  determi- 

*  Just  and  incumbent  as  were  the  means  used,  and  able 
and  faithful  as  were  the  counsel  employed,  we,nevertheless, 
ascribe  our  deliverance,  from  the  designs  and  snares  of  those 
who  were  engaged  against  us,  wholly  to  the  Lord.  Under 
a  sense  of  dependence  on  Divine  interposition,that  interpo- 
sition was  sought,  not  only  in  private  and  on  ordinary  occa- 
sions, but  also  at  prayer  meetings,  appointed,  specially,  for 
that  purpose ;  and,  after  the  favor  was  experienced,  the 
church  observed  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving,  on  account 
thereof- 


INTRODUCTION.  xxi 

nation  to  go  through  with  what  they  had  undertaken. 
Of  the  latter  description,  we  have  no  doubt,  that 
some  are  christians,  nor,  that  our  common  Father 
will  chastise  them,  in  his  own  time  and  way,  as  he 
has  us  $  and  although  the  others,  should  they  be  left 
to  die  as  they  are,  must  receive  their  portion  with 
hypocrites  and  unbelievers,  and,  therefore,  have  never 
taken,  nor  do  we  design  to  take,  any  advantages  of  ci- 
vil power,  to  punish  them ;  knowing  who  hath  said 
Vengeance  is  mine  I  will  repay  nevertheless, 
that  it  may  be  manifest  that  the  reports  concerning 
the  writer,  are  incredible,  and,  therefore,  the  asper- 
sions, cast  upon  him  and  the  church,  unjust ;  also 
that  they  may  not,  in  consequence  of  such  reports  be 
deprived  of  that  small  portion  of  influence  in  Zion, 
to  which  they  are  entitled,  and,  so,  of  rendering  that 
small  measure  of  usefulness  to  the  cause  of  C  hrist  in 
the  world,  to  which  their  means  are  adequate ;  they 
deem  it  an  indispensable  duty  to  lay  before  the  public, 
the  following  Narative  of  facts  ;  notwithstanding,  it, 
necessarily,  contains  much  exposure  of  the  character 
and  conduct,  both  of  those  who  originated  and  of 
those  who  have  aided,  the  misrepresentations  which 
have  gone  abroad. 

*  Whatever  legal  measures  were  taken,  by  the  church 
and  their  pastor,  were  taken,  of  necessity,  in  their  own  de- 
fence. And,  should  the  pastor  take  measures  to  secure 
himself,  in  future,  from  being  insulted  on  the  street,  they 
will  be  of  the  same  kind;  and  may,  justly,  be  considered  as 
a  favor,  to  those  who  have  been  guilty  of  that  meanness, 
as  they  will  thereby  be  kept  from  rendering  themselves  more 
and  more  ridiculous  in  the  view  of  the  public 


Odr  Whereas  the  reader  of  the  Narrative,  will 
feel  some  inconvenience  from  the  number,  and,  in 
some  instances,  the  length  of  the  notes  attached  to  it, 
he  is  desired  to  excuse  the  writer,  under  the  following 
considerations. 

1.  The  matter  contained  in  some  of  the  notes,  thof 
necessary,  by  way  of  explanation,  could  not  have 
been  introduced  into  the  body  of  the  work,  without 
greatly  interrupting  the  connexion  of  the  material 

Jacts. 

2.  The  information  given  in  several  of  the  notes, 
has  been  received,  since  the  Narrative  was  written. 

3.  When  a  man  speaks  of  little  people,  he  must,  ne- 
cessarily, speak  of  little  matters. 


NARRATIVE,  &e. 


THE  principal  accusers  are  Susan  Colhoun, 
Frances  Stewart,  and  Margaret  Dibble.  Their  se- 
veral allegations  have  long  been  public  ;  and  have 
been  circulated  not  only  by  means  of  common  and 
frequent  conversation,  but  also  in  manuscript,  and 
even  in  print.  The  crimes  and  misdemeanors  which 
they  impute  to  the  accused,  were  he  proved  to  be 
guilty  of  them,would  not  merely  disqualify  him  for  the 
ministerial  office  and  church-membership,  but  more- 
over render  him  a  monster,  at  once  detestable  and 
dangerous  in  civil  society.  The  church  with  which 
he  has  the  honour  to  be  connected  have,  notwith- 
standing all  these  accusations,  and  all  the  assiduity 
with  which  they  have  been  propagated,  retained  him 
as  their  pastor.  But  why  ?  Because  they  countenance 
such  offences  against  God  and  man  ?  or,  because, 
being  afraid  the  charges  were  true,  they  refused  to 
investigate  them  ?  No ;  but  because,  having  thorough- 
ly and  faithfully  investigated  them,  they  found  them 
to  come  from  persons  of  such  character,  and  to  be 
fraught  with  so  much  contradiction,  and  to  bear  so 
many  evident  marks  of  wilful  misrepresentation  and 
malicious  design,  as  render  them  utterly  unworthy 
of  credit.  The  grounds  of  their  conduct  and  the  con- 
siderations under  which  they  acted,  the  church,  as 
soon  as  convenient,  made  known  in  writing  to  many 
sister  churches ;  and  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  New- 
York  Baptist  Association,  laid  the  same  also  before 


24 


that  body,  and  which  they  had  printed  with  their 
minutes.  But  to  churches  of  other  Associations — to 
christians  of  other  denominations,  and  to  the  public, 
neither  the  church  nor  i<s  pastor  has  hitherto  made 
any  representation  ;  and  for  which  lengthy  silence 
they  offer  no  apology  other  than  the  following : — They 
could  not  reconcile  themselves  to  the  meanness  of 
writing  merely  to  answer  the  scurrilous  papers  cir- 
culated— especially  as  they  have  all  been  anonymous ; 
and  as  they  contemplated  giving,  at  a  proper  time,  a 
history  of  the  church  from  its  origin,  and  conse- 
quently of  their  late  troubles  and  the  causes  of  them, 
they  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  make  any  partial  pub- 
lication. The  contemplated  history  is  now  about  to 
appear ;  but  as  it  is  contained  in  a  sermon,  and  as 
some  things  necessary  to  be  said,  were  thought  to  be 
incompatible,  not  only  with  the  limits  but  also  the 
nature  of  a  pulpit  discourse,  the  notes  attached  to  the 
sermon,  likewise  the  Narrative  and  Appendix,  are 
added,  under  the  impression  that  they  are  both  sea- 
sonable and  incumbent. 

That  the  charges,  at  least  the  principal  ones,  a- 
gainst  the  accused  are  not  true,  he  does  not  pretend 
to  offer  any  positive  proof:  (unless  indeed  the  denial 
of  them  by  the  accusers  themselves  be  so  understood :) 
nor  will  the  considerate  reader  look  for  any  such 
proof,  knowing  that  the  offences  alleged  are  said  to 
have  been  committed  when  no  human  being  witnessed 
the  transactions  of  the  parties.  Nevertheless,  he  can 
give  what  is  understood  to  be  the  best  evidence  which, 
in  such  cases,  can  be  given,*  or  ought  to  be  demand- 
ed. To  satisfy  unprejudiced  persons  that  his  accu- 
sers ought  not  to  be  credited,  all  that,  in  his  opinion? 

*  Excepting  an  alibis  an  elsewhere;  i.  e.  proof  that  the 
accused  was,  at  the  time,  in  B©me  other  place. 


2* 

can  be  necessary  is,  that  they  seriously  consider  the 
following  facts  relating  to  their  characters  and  stories* 
From  these  facts  it  will  appear  that  current  report^ 
whether  from  the  lips,  the  pen,  or  the  press,  has 
given,  though  a  story  of  each  accuser,  yet  not  the 
several  and  very  different  stories  of  each ;  and  con- 
sequently that  those  who  have  decided  by  common 
report,  have  decided  in  the  dark  and  under  gross  inv* 
position. 

The  propagators  of  these  charges  have  circulated 
a  story  as  from  Susan  Colhoun,  concerning  transac- 
tions said  to  have  taken  place  about  5  or  6  years  ago; 
but  they  have  not  circulated  nor  even  mentioned  (if 
they  knew)  that  to  Mrs.  Dorothy  Fraser,  who  sent 
for  her  and  adjured  her  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  she 
solemnly  denied  every  item  of  her  story,  then  abroad, 
which  accused  even  of  the  smallest  immodesty.*  The 
same  denial  also  she  made  to  Mrs.  Hester  Mount; 
nor  that  while  the  Stewart  trial  was  pending,  Ti- 
mothy Green,  esq.  Mr.  William  McKean,  and  Mr. 
Leonard  Bleecker  called  on  the  sister  of  Susan,  Mrs. 
Rachel  Gender,  and  having  inquired  of  her  concern- 
ing the  matter,  she  told  them  that  Susan,  after  she 
was  excluded  from  the  church,  and  consequently  long 
after  the  date  of  the  other  insult  of  which  she  com-  „ 
plained,  had  declared  to  her  that  she  had  never  seen 
nor  known  any  thing  amiss  of  Mr.  Parkinson,  and 
that  he  had  treated  her  with  the  kindness  of  a  father.f 
Mrs.  Gender  has  lately  represented  the  same  to  Mr. 
McKean  in  the  presence  of  Wm.  \V.  Todd,  and 

*  Her  words  to  Mrs.  Fraser  were  these  :  "  All  that  Mr, 
Parkinson  did  to  me  was  this :  when  I  was  much  affected  and 
crying,  he  took  me  by  the  hand  and  kissed  me."  This  the 
accused  stated  himself. 

f  She  being,  as  her  sister  states,  at  the  time  she  first  called 
on  the  accused,  but  about  13  years  of  age. 


26 


added,  "  1  am  persuaded  that  if  Susan  were  now 
asked  her  opinion  of  Mr.  Parkinson,  she  would  say, 
I  think  him  to  he  one  of  the  hest  men  in  the  world." 

The  same  propagators  have  circulated  a  story  as 
from  Frances  Stewart :  but  they  have  not  circulated, 
that  her  first  and  principal  charge,  exhibited  to  Mrs. 
Hoffmire,  was  that  a  child  she  had,  about  5  years 
ago,  was  by  the  accused — that  this  she  had  often  and 
with  awful  appeals  to  God  affirmed  to  be  true;  yet 
that,  on  the  morning  first  appointed  for  trial  on  her 
prosecution,  she  trifled  that  charge  away,  saying  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Montanye,  who  saw  her  as  she  was  going 
to  court,  "  I  only  said  so  to  plague  him  f  9  adding, 
after  a  little  pause,  "  I  am  now  going  to  court — 
from  that  I  expect  to  go  to  the  State-Prison,  and 
from  that  to  Hell nor  that  when  Messrs,  Andrew 
Seger  and  John  Wilson  called  on  her  and  questioned 
her  on  the  subject,  she  told  them  nearly  the  same  as 
to  her  design  in  making  the  charge  respecting  the 
child  ;  and  when  they  asked,  How  then  could  you  say 
so  ?  she  replied,  «*  I  do  not  know — but  I  believe  the 
devil  was  in  me."  The  reason  why  she  denied  this 
part  of  her  story  and  adhered  to  the  rest  is  obvious ; 
she  had  found  out,  that,  being  a  married  woman,  this 
part  of  her  accusation  could  not  be  admitted,  while 
the  other  could. 

Reporters  say  of  Mrs.  Stewart's  charges,  "  These 
*•  she,  from  a  strong  sense  of  compunction,  preferred 
•«  against  Mr.  Parkinson  to  Mrs.  Hoffmire but 
they  do  not  report  that  Mrs.  Stewart  was  proved,  in 
court,  to  be  not  only  much  given  to  lying,  but  also 
to  lewdness  ;  and  that  from  early  life  ;*  which  puts 

*  Mis.  Stewart  having  been  raised  in  the  country,  was 
but  little  known  to  members  of  the  church  and  only  to  a  few 
of  them  at  all ;  nor  had  these  heard  any  thing  amiss  of  her 


27 


the  idea  of  compunction,  on  the  alleged  account,  out 
of  question  ;  and  must  destroy  also,  with  every  think- 
ing person,  all  pretence  for  what  has  been  said  of 
the  accused  as  being  acquitted  from  the  charge  of 
adultery  with  her,  without  trial;  for  altho'  the  civil 
law  could  not  try  that  matter,  and  the  indictment 
was  therefore  quashed  ;  nevertheless,  the  accuser  be- 
ing proved  unworthy  of  credit  in  the  one  case,  she  is 
so  of  course  in  the  other  :  and  she  never  pretended 
to  have  any  witness  to  the  court  that  w  as  quashed  but 
herself. 

It  has  often  been  said,  «  If  P.  was  not  guilty  why 
did  he  visit  Mrs.  Stewart  after  her  expulsion  from, 
the  church  ?"  This  isensily  accounted  for.  Her  expul- 
sion indeed  originated  in  a  suspicion  of  forbidden  in- 
timacy with  John  Murray;  (a  wicked  man  who  fre- 
quented her  house  ;)  yet  there  was  no  proof  obtained 
that  she  w  as  guilty,  and  she  was  expelled  on  account 
of  her  obstinacy — for  saying  that  she  «  had  rather  be 
put  away  from  the  church  than  deny  that  man  tin 
privilege  of  coming  to  her  house  and  although  it 
had  been  rumoured  that,  after  her  expulsion,  she  had 
implied  that  some  improper  liberties  had  been  taken 
with  her  by  the  accused,  yet  this,  (to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Tallman,)  she  solemnly  and  repeatedly  denied.  She 
also  then  put  on  ail  the  appearances  of  great  peni- 
tence, and  interceded  with  Mrs.  Tallman  to  prevail 
on  the  accused,  if  possible,  to  visit  her  ; — lie  refused 
to  see  her  at  her  own  home,  but  by  much  intreaty  of 
Mrs  Tallman,  was  prevailed  on  to  see  her  at  Mr. 
Tallman's  ;  (next  door  to  where  she  then  lived  5)  and 
after  she  had  declared  to  him,  as  she  had  often  done 

at  the  ti?ne  she  offered  to  the  church  and  hypocritically  ob- 
tained admission,  Alas !  that  a  church  should  be  so  impo- 
sed ou. 

li 


to'Mrs.  Tallman  before,  that  she  had  neither  said 
nor  known  any  thing  amiss  of  him,  he,  at  her  par- 
ticular request,  had  some  talk  with  her  alone  ;  in  the 
course  of  which  she  affected  such  penitence  for  her 
treatment  of  the  church,  and  so  much  sorrow  for  her 
separation  from  God's  people,  as  induced  him  to  hope 
that  the  suspicion  concerning*  her  was  unfounded,  and 
that  she  was  likely  to  be  brought  back  to  the  fold  of 
Christ.    Consequently,  afterwards,  he  occasionally 
visited  her,  as  he  has  done  and  would  again,  other 
excluded  persons  under  appearances  of  penitence. 
Subsequent  circumstances,  however,    have  proved 
her  apparent  repentance  to  have  been  only  affected, 
and  have  brought  to  light  the  object  of  her  affecta- 
tion.   In  court  it  was  proved,  that  soon  after  her 
expulsion  from  the  church,  she  said  w  The  church 
shall  suffer  for  it (her  expulsion       and  that  John 
Murray,  being  present,  said  *«  yes,  and  if  you  cannot 
do  it  J  will  help  you."f  Thus  it  is  evident  chat  a  plot 
was  determined  on,  long  before  the  prosecution  com- 
nteneed ;  and  that  she  assumed  appearances  of  peni- 
tence to  induce  the  accused  to  vi*i(  her,  that  so  any 
charges,  she  might  think  propel  io  bring,  might  be 
the  more  plausible.    Amid  ail  her  policy,  however, 
she  involved  herself  in  this  glaring  inc  onsistency  : 
she  was   frequently  heard  to  speak  in  the  highest 
terms  of  the  accused,  and  at  a  date  considerably 
later  than  the  last  visit  (according  to  her  own  story) 

*  The  reader  is  requested  to  recollect  that  throughout 
both  the  sermon  and  I\arrative  the  terms  cxfi'lyicn  and  exclu- 
sion, and  the  phrase/^/  away  are  used  to  signify  txccmiutini- 
cation. 

f  As  the  testimony  on  the  Stewart  trial  is  frequently  re- 
lerred  to  in  this  part  of  the  .Narrative,  it  is  thought  proper  to 
let  the  public  know  that  Mr.  Sampson's  report  of  the  said 
trial  is  preserved  in  manuscript* 


29 


^which  he  ever  made  her,  she  declared,  as  was  proved 
in  court,  that  "  she  knew  no  harm  of  him."  When 
she  made  this  declaration,  she  possibly  had  a  hope 
that  the  accused  would  yet  visit  her  and  so  give  ad- 
ditional evidence  in  favour  of  what  she  might  lay  to 
his  charge ;  but  when  that  hope  was  Masted,  her 
charges  (which  before,  in  a  private  way,  she  had  re- 
peatedly stated  and  again  denied)  became  public. 

Reporters  have  circulated,  by  means  of  anonymous 
papers,  that  when  Mrs.  Stewart  (at  Mr.  Tall  man's) 
solemnly  charged   Parkinson  with  the  crimes  she 
alleged,  he  "turned  as  pale  as  ashes."    Whether  he 
•did  or  not  he  does  not  know,  nor  will  he  pretend  to 
say.    Ami  what  if  he  had  ?  Who  does  not  believe  that 
a  change  and  even  changes  might  take  place,  in  the 
-countenance  of  a  man,  while  hearing  himself  accused 
of  such  awful  crimes,  and  the  accusations  accompani- 
ed with  so  many  and  shocking  appeals  to  God  that  they 
were  true,  though  he  should  be  perfectly  innocent  of 
them  ?  But  who  says  that  his  countenance  thus  chang- 
ed ?    No  one  who  asserts  it  has  given  his  name.  It 
has  been  reported  that  upwards  of  twenty  persons 
were   present;  perhaps,  including  Mr.  Tallman's 
family  and  two  or  three  females,  there  were  ;  yet  of 
these,  all,  except  two  or  three,  are  known  to  assent 
the   contrary:  what  those  two  or  three,  such  as 
Bleecker  and  Maclay,  assert  we  know  not ;  Mr. 
Wyckoff,  however,  though  among  the  decided  oppo- 
sers  of  the  accused,  has,  even  lately,  declared  that 
the  assertion  respecting  the  countenance  is  false — 
that  he  observed  the  countenance  very  particularly 
and  that  he  saw  no  change  in  it.    Distressing  soever 
as  it  was  to  the  accused  that  such  charges  should  be 
brought  against  him,  and  thereby  so  much  occasion 
Ijiven  to  the  enemies  of  religion  to  blaspheme  ;  he* 


30 


nevertheless,  recollects  to  have  felt  a  good  degree  of 
composure,  m  leaving  the  disposal  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter with  the  Lord;  and  although  he  verily  believed 
that  some  present, particularly  Mr.  Maelay  [pastor  of 
Mulberry  Street  Church]  and  Mr.  Loundsherry  [then 
a  member  of  Budd  Street  Church  ;  since  excluded, 
and,  as  such,  received  into  Mulberry  Street  Church] 
thirsted  for  his  downfall  and  that  of  the  church  he 
serves,  yet  he  could  not  but  think  that  ev(n  they,  on 
seeing  the  woman  and  comparing  her  appearance  with 
her  circumstances,  must  be  convinced  that  it  was  un- 
safe, at  least,  to  believe  her.^  Mop  was  he  disap- 
pointed ;  for  all  present,  being  individually  interroga- 
ted, declared  that  they  did  not  and  could  not  believe 
her.  Klder  John  Williams,  pastor  of  Fayette  Street 
Church,  Mr.  Maclay,  pastor  of  Mulberry  Street 

#  Her  husband  is  a  poor  mechanic  ; — Whenever  the  ac- 
cused went  to  her  house,  (except  once,  which  was  in  the  af- 
ternoon, when  she  said  she  was  preparing  to  go  abroad,)  he 
found  her  very  meanly  clad,  and,  generally,  exhibiting  a  pic- 
ture  of  distress ;  he  repeatedly  heard  her  complain  of  (he 
great  labour  and  difficulty  with  which  she  obtained  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life ;  and  which  she  offered  as  her  apology  for 
seldom  attending  Monday  and  Thursday  evening  meeting?. 
Once,  on  hearing  her  so  complain,  the  accused  gave  her,  as 
an  act  of  charity,  a  three  or  five  dollar  note,  he  does  not  re- 
collect which  ;  yet,  at  the  meeting  at  Mr.  Tallman's  she  ap- 
peared in  attire  fit  for  any  lady  in  the  city,  to  appear  in  on  a 
puMie  occasion ;  and  to  help  her  lace,  naturally  swarthy  and 
wan,  she  was  highly  painted,  as  she  was  afterward  in  court, 
and  which  all  who  had  seen  her  in  her  ordinary  appearance 
must  have  observed.  Why  all  this  ?  Doubtless  to  represent 
herself  the  mo~e  likely  to  have  been  an  object  of  temptation. 
And  who  but  must  believe,  on  considering  her  circumstan- 
ces, that  her  rich  apparel  was  either  procured  by  prostitu- 
tion, or  that  those  who  were  combined  with  her  against  the 
church,  had  been  at  the  expense  of  it,  in  order  the  better  to 
answer  their  ends  ?  Are  such  women  to  be  credited  ?  If 
so,  here  is  the  man  who  may  not  be  destroyed  by  their 
charges  ? 


31 


Church,  Dr.  Roswell  Graves,  a  deacon  of  the  First 
Church,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draw  up  a  sui- 
table certificate  of  the  opinion  which  they  entertained 
of  the  woman  and  her  story,  and  to  present  it  to  the 
males  present  for  subscription.  It  being  then  late, 
the  company,  after  some  conversation,  dissolved. 
The  certificate,  within  a  day  or  two  was  prepared, 
when  all  readily  signed  it,  except  Mr.  Loundsberry, 
to  whom  it  was  not  presented,  and  Mr.  Maclay,  who 
having  heard  from  Mrs.  floffrnire,  next  day,  that 
two  other  women  (a  Miss  Hadley  and  a  Mrs.  Grif- 
fiths) had  stated  that  the  accused  had  been  guilty  of 
some  immodesty  toward  them ;  on  account  of  which 
report  he  hesitated;  but  Mr.  Cornelius  P.  WyckofF 
and  Mr.  Leonard  Bleecker,  having  interrogated  Miss 
Hadley,  and  Mr.  John  Wintringham,  Mrs.  Griffiths, 
they  reported  that  the  stories  of  the  said  women,  had 
been  essentially  misrepresented  ;  that,  in  fact  they 
amounted  to  nothing  ;  this  report,  at  the  house  of  the 
aceused,  and  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Williams  and 
others,  they  made  to  Mr.  Maclay,  whereupon  he  de- 
clared himself  satisfied,  and  signed  the  certificate. 
A  few  days  afterward,  however,  he  affected  another 
change  of  mind,  and  requested  his  name  to  be  erased 
from  the  paper.* 

*  Of  which  the  following  is  a  true  copy  with  the  signa- 
tures. 

Whereas  certain  reports  of  a  serious  nature  have  gone 
abroad,  tending  to  injure  the  character  of  Elder  William  Par- 
kinson, pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  this  city — and 
whereas  such  reports  were  originated  by  one  Frances  Stew- 
art, arid  by  her  propagated  to  the  injury  of  him  the  said  El- 
der and  of  the  cause  of  religion,  by  opening  the  mouths  ot 
gain  i  vers  against  the  professors  of  Christianity, — and  In  or- 
der that  an  investigation  of  the  subject  might  be  had, 

"  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  were  duly  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  enquire  into  the  subject — 


32 


Reporters  proceed  to  say  that  Mrs.  Stewart,  on  her 
charges  becoming  public,  was  soon  abandoned  of  her 
husband  ;  but  they  do  not  report,  that,  since  the  trial, 
he  has  offered  to  return  to  live  with  her,  if  she  would 
make  a  proper  acknowledgement  for  her  bad  eonduet, 
proved  against  her  in  court,  and  promise  to  amend  her 

"  Whereupon,  h iving  met,  and  the  said  parties  appearing 
before  us,  the  charges  of  the  said  Frances  were  heard,  by 
which  the  said  Elder  wa9  charged  of  having  had  criminal 
intercourse  with  her  the  said  Frances — 

"  The  said  Elder,  being  called  u:>on  to  answer  the  char- 
ges of  her  the  said  Frances,  did  declare  in  a  solemn  manner 
that  the  charges  brought  against  him  were  utterly  false  and 
unfounded. 

"  The  parties  having  withdrawn,  the  committee  proceed- 
ed to  examine  the  testimony  of  several  respectable  witnesses, 
respecting  the  character  of  the  said  Frances,  in  which  they 
agreed  that  the  said  Frances  was  base  and  unprincipled,  and 
that  her  word  could  not  be  depended  on  in  any  case — and 
several  circumstances  tending  to  corroborate  their  testimo- 
ny, 

"  The  committee  did,  on  mature  deliberation,  unanimous- 
ly agree,  that  the  charges  brought  against  the  said  Elder, 
were  founded  in  falsehood  and  misrepresentation — and  we 
the  said  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  said  Elder  ought 
to  be  acquitted  from  the  charges  brought  against  him. 

JOHN  WILLIAMS,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
Fayette  Street. 

ARCHIBALD   MACLAY,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  Mulberry  Street. 

CORNELIUS  P.  WYCKOFF,  Pastor  of  the  North 
Baptist  Church,  Budd  Street. 

JOHN  BEDIENT, 
SAMUEL  F.  RANDOLPH, 
NICHOLAS  B.  LYON, 
JOHN  TIEBOUT, 
JAMES  DUFFIE, 
WILLIAM  WILLESS, 
GEORGE  HADLEY, 
PETER  CONREY, 
JOHN  TALL  MAN, 
ROSWELL  GRAVES, 
LEONARD  BLEECKER." 


33 

Hfe  for^he  future  ,*  but  that,  she  refusing  to  do  so> 
they  on  that  account  remain  separate;  and  which, 
renders  it  at  least  highly  probable  that  she  with  the 
advice  of  others,  contrived  her  stories  and  formed  the 
design  of  a  prosecution,  not  only  to  injure  the  church 
[see  p.  28]  but  also  in  order  to  get  rid  of  her  hus- 
band $#  and  that  he  had  been  persuaded  to  separate 
from  her  for  a  time,  under  the  impression  that,  by  a  ci~ 
vil  suit,  he  might  recover  damages. f 

As  an  additional  evidence  that  the  accused  is  guilty, 
his  enemies  have  abundantly  circulated  that,  to  avoid 
Mrs.  Stewart's  prosecution,  he  had  determined  to 
leave  the  city  :  but  the  circumstances  which  influenc- 
ed him  to  that  determination  they  have  artfully  con- 
cealed ;  and  which  circumstances  plainly  prove  that 
the  determination  resulted,  not  from  any  conscious- 
ness of  guilt,  but  from  ignorance  of  judicial  pro* 

*  That  Stewart,  since  the  trial,  proposed  to  return  to  live 
with  his  wife,  upon  the  conditions  mentioned,  and  that  she 
refused,  he  has  himself  asserted  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talhnan; 
to  whom  also  he  communicated,  that  although  at  first  when 
his  wile  mentioned  her  charges  against  Mr.  Parkinson,  he 
partly  believed  her,  yet  at  court  he  became  fully  convinced, 
that  her  charges  were  totally  false,  and  that  she  had  raised 
them  only  to  get  rid  of  him — moreover  he  added  that  he  had 
nothing  against  Mr.  P.  nor  the  church,  hut  supposed  tha4 
they  had  done  right. 

f  The  same  project  was  attempted  ly  Mr.  Wiritringham. 
After  the  trial  for  an  alleged  Assault  and  Battery  en  his 
wife,  he  gave  out  that  Eliza  Wintringham  was  no  ;oi  ge-  h?s 
wife,  but  his  kcusckccpcr,  and  commenced  a  suit  for  damages 
to  the  amount  of  25,000  Dolls,  on  a  charge  of  Crini.  Van, 
but  being  required  to  show  cause  of  action,  he  could  cot,  and 
was  under  the  necessity  of  withdrawing  the  suit.  1  ow  ridicu- 
lous his  conduct !  On  the  next  day  after  the  trial,  he  was 
seen  riding  with  his  wife  in  a  chair  and  helping  her  out  ot  it 
at  the  door  of  Dr.  Mcintosh  ;  and  frequently,  since  the  trial*, 
he  has  been  heard  to  say,  ;s  I  now  love  her  (his  wife)  bettet 
vh?.a  ever*" 


34 


ccedings  and  advantages  taken  of  that  i^iorance. 
The  circumstances  follow.  On  Lord's  day  evening 
March  24,  1811,  Mr.  John  Wintringham  and  Dr. 
Mcintosh  called  at  the  house  of  the  accused,  and, 
under  pretence  of  the  greatest  friendship  (he  then 
supposing  them  to  be  his  real  friends)  told  him  that 
a  writ  was  said  to  be  out,  and  that  it  would  probably 
be  served  the  next  morning  early ;  and,  therefore,  that 
it  was  expedient  for  him  to  leave  his  house,  at  least, 
though  rather  the  city,  until  he  should  know,  from 
them,  how  far  things  were  intended  to  be  carried; 
and  if  such  a  course  of  law  was  indeed  determined  on 
they  would  let  him  know  whether  it  was  safe  for  him 
to  return  to  the  city  at  all  or  not,  and  if  safe  to  re* 
turn,  what  arrangements  would  be  necessary  for  meet- 
ing the  suit.  Their  object  has  since  become  mani* 
fest.  Even  then,  although  at  the  time,  unknown  to 
the  accused  and  the  church,  consultations  were  hold- 
ing about  forming  the  society  afterwards  called  Zoar. 
This  society  was  to  be  formed  out  of  the  First  Church; 
but  as  this  church  were  much  united  in  their  pastor, 
those  malecontents  who  were  sot  upon  forming  the 
new  society,  were  aware  that,  under  existing  attach- 
ments, few  would  leave  his  ministry  ;  the  above  ad- 
vice, therefore  was  probably  given,  in  hope  that, 
if  taken,  the  accused  would  thereby  be  brought  un- 
der suspicion  and  disgrace  ;  and  consequently  that 
the  church  must  either  discard  him  and  be  for  a  time 
without  a  pastor,  or  fail  into  reproach  and  contention 
in  account  of  retaining  him  ;  in  either  of  which 
events  a  good  opportunity  would  be  furnished  to  col- 
lect materials  for  a  new  church.  Besides,  both 
Mcintosh  and  Wintringham  were  so  enraged  at  some 
recent  acts  of  church  discipline,  that  scarce  any 
thing  could  have  been  more  grateful  to  them  than  to 


35 


see  the  church  thrown  into  confusion  and  trouble.* 
The  accused,  notwithstanding  their  advice,  had  then, 
no  idea  of  leaving  the  city ;  nevertheless,  early  in 
the  morning,  he  left  his  house  and  went  to  the  house 

*  Not  only  were  they  among  those  dissatisfied  at  the  de- 
cisions of  the  church  on  the  questions  relating  to  slavery, 
and  the  applicants  for  license,  but  Wintringham  had  just 
narrowly  escaped  exclusion  on  the  difficulty  between  him 
and  Mr.  Meeks,  and  Mcintosh  was  then  under  censure 
and  a  few  days  after  was  excommunicated.    See  sermon  p. 
36.    Nevertheless,  they  had  constantly  affected  so  much 
friendship  for  the  accused,  that  he  had  confidence  in  them, 
as  being  his  real  friends;  and  indeed  it  is  ascertained,  not 
only  that  they  and  others,  who  were  then  about  to  form  a 
new  church,  considered  him  innocent  of  the  charges  of 
Mrs.  Stewart,  but  also  that  they  had  made  considerable  cal- 
culations on  obtaining  him  as  their  pastor.   Mr.  Lewis  Jud- 
son,  a  member  of  the  First  Church,  whom  they  greatly 
pressed  to  join  with  them,  and  who  was  at  their  meeting  at 
Mr.  Wintringham's  the  evening  they  signed  the  letter,  in 
which  they  requested  their  dismission,  states,  that  after 
signing  the  said  letter,  it  w  is  observed  in  common  conver- 
sation among  them,  "  Now  many  will  say  we  have  left  the 
church  on  account  of  the  rumours  respecting  Mr.  Parkin- 
son :"  whereupon,  to  shew  that  they  did  not  give  any 
credit  to  those  reports,  they  resolved  unanimcwsh/,  to  in- 
vite Mr.  Parkinson  to  preach  both  at  the  opening  of  their 
house  of  worship  and  on  the  occasion  of  their  constitution ; 
also  that  on  the  then  succeeding  Lord's  day,  they  would  all 
go  to  hear  him  preach  in  Gold  street.  [That  was  the  Lord's 
day  on  which  Mrs.  Wintringham  spoke  so  highly  of  the 
accused  to  Mrs.  Baker;  see  trial  p.  51.]  Mr.  \Vrm.  Hart, 
who  was  prevailed  on  to  take  a  dismission,  and  unite  in 
Zoar,  but  whom,  on  account  of  his  after  opposition  to  their 
attempts  to  injure  the  First  Church,  they  excluded,  states, 
that  Mr.  Wintringham,  observed  to  him,  "  We  know  not 
what  Providence  will  do  for  us ;  it  is  highly  probable  that 
we  shall  get  Mr.  P.  to  be  our  pastor;  and,  if  so,  many  of 
the  members  will  come  and  join  us,  for  the  sake  of  sitting 
under  his  ministry."    Mrs.  Isabella  Lee  [a  member  of  the 
First  Church]  states,  that  when  they  were  persuading  her  to 
Join  them,  she  asked  "  Who  shall  We  have  for  a  preacher  ?n 

M 


36 


of  one  of  the  members  of  the  church,  intending  to 
have  an  interview  with  some  of  his  brethren  and 
know  from  them,  in  what  manner  it  would  be  best 
to  prepare  for  a  legal  defence.  Early  in  the  day, 
however,  several  brethren  hearing  of  what  had  taken 

to  Avhich  Mrs.  Wintringham  replied,  "  We  expect  to  get  Mr. 
Parkinson ;  indeed  there  is  little  reason  to  doubt  but  we 
shall  get  him,"  &c.  in  this  way  Mrs.  Lee  says  Mrs.  W. 
spake  to  her  very  frequently:  this  as  well  as  the  conversa- 
tion with  Mrs.  Baker,  observe  reader,  Avas  after  the  date  of 
the  last  insult  alleged  by  Mrs.  Wintringham. 

However,  having  lost  all  hope,  that  the  accused  would 
leave  his  situation  to  serve  them,  so  long  as  the  church  re- 
mained attached  to  him,  the  expedient  of  advising  him  to 
run  aAvay,  as  they  term  it,  was,  it  Avould  seem,  contrived, 
under  the  supposition  that  the  church  Avould  then  consider 
him  guilty  and  cast  him  orT ;  or  at  least,  be  so  divided  on 
Hie  subject,  that  he  would  leave  them,  and  accept  the  neAV 
charge;  and,  if  so,  Mcintosh  and  Wintringham,  having* 
as  they  calculated,  the  secret  of  advising  him  to  leave  the 
city  betAveen  themselves,  could  easily  give  it  such  an  expla- 
nation as  to  remove  the  reproach.    Thus  they  pursued  this 
manoeuvre  until  they  found  that  the  church,  being  satisfied 
that  the  charges  of  Mrs.  Stewart  Avere  false,  had  determin- 
ed, if  even  the  jury  should  pronounce  the  accused  guilty, 
that  they  Avould  retain  him  :  then,  the  neAAr  society  having 
lost  all  expectation  of  obtaining  him  as  their  pastor,  and 
Mrs.  Wintringham  all  her  hopes  of  seducing  him,  the  plan 
to  destroy  him,  by  her  charges,  Avas  devised.    HoAvever,  as 
in  this,  she  must  hazard  her  oAvn  character,  it  Avas  to  be  the 
last  resort ;  and  Avas  therefore  delayed,  in  hope  that  the 
trial  on  the  prosecution  of  Mrs.  SteAArart,  Avould  so  shake 
his  reputation  as  to  induce  him  to  leave  the  city,  or  at  least, 
so  as  to  disgrace  and  divide  the  church;  but  as  that  trial 
tended  rather  to  raise  than  sink  him,  nothing  short  of  the 
last  resort  could  sufficiently  gratify  the  determination  which 
Mcintosh,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wintringham  and  others  felt  to 
disturb  and  distress  the  church ;  hence  the  contrivance  of 
the  meeting  at  Mcintosh's,  &c.  &c.    The  truth  of  the 
above  supposed  system  of  intrigue,  the  Avriter  is  well  assur- 
ed, has  its  testimony  in  the  consciences  of  those  to  whom 
it  is  attributed. 


37 


place,  came  to  where  he  was,  and.  having  convinced 
him  of  his  error  in  taking  the  advice  that  had  been 
given  him,  he  returned  with  them — went  to  his  own 
house,  and  preached  in  the  evening  as  usual.  This 
shows  that  the  accused  and  his  friends  were  then  ex- 
pecting and  prepared  to  meet  Mrs.  Stewart's  prose- 
cution :   nor  had  the  accused,  ever  after,  a  single 
thought  of  attempting  to  avoid  it,  on  acc  ount  of  any 
terrors  which  that  prosecution  alone  presented.  But 
on  Thursday  morning,  (the  accused  thinks  the  Mh  of 
April  1811,)  Mr.   Samuel  Prince  accompanied  by 
Mr.  Samuel  F.  Randolph  came  into  his  study;  when 
Mr.  Prince  stated  that  he  had  been  assured  by  one 
of  the  grand  jury,  [whether  immediately  or  second 
handed  is  not  recollected,]  that  a  bill  was  found,  or 
certainly  would  be  that  day,  upon  the  accusations 
of  Mrs.  Stewart:  this  gave  no  alarm;  being  only 
what  had  been  expected  ;  but  he  (Mr.  Prince)  went 
on  to  state,  that  by  the  same  authority  he  was  in- 
formed that  other  women  also,  among  whom,  he 
understood,  was  a  Miss  Stevens,  had  appeared  or 
were  about  to  appear  against  the  accused.*  Now, 
having  no  idea  who  the  women  could  be,  and  not  re- 
collecting ever  to  have  seen  a  young  woman  by  the 
name  of  Stevens,  the  accused  observed  something  to 
this  amount  :  "  I  am  as  innocent  of  the  charges  as 
either  of  you  (speaking  to  Messrs.  Prince  and  Ran- 
dolph) but  if  women  whom  I  have  never  seen  nor 
heard  of,  and  in  such  numbers,  are  appearing  and 
are  permitted  to  swear  against  me,  there  is  no  stand- 
ing before  such  a  combination,  and  I  am  determined 
to  leave  the  city."    On  considering  the  multitude  of 
his  enemies  and  their  great  desire  to  have  him  remov- 

No  ba|e  motives  are  ascribed  to  3Ir\  Prinr<\ 


as 

ed,  the  accused  felt  suddenly  and  decidedly  im- 
pressed, that  a  plan  had  been  concerted  to  induce  a 
considerable  number  of  women  either  respectable, 
but  influenced  by  some  ill  will  either  against  himself 
or  the  church,  or  base  and  obtained  by  bribery ,  to 
appear  against  him  ;  that  by  multiplying  prosecutions 
they  might  so  distress  his  mind?  injure  his  reputation 
and  exhaust  his  resources,  as  to  compel  him  to  leave 
the  place. *  Under  this  impression,  connected  with 
the  considerations  that  his  usefulness  here  might  be 
at  an  end — that  probably  the  event  was  permitted, 
in  Holy  Providence,  to  remove  him  to  some  other 
place,  where,  in  the  Divine  arrangements,  work 
was  assigned  him,  and  knowing  withal  that  his  Mas- 
ter had  said  If  they  persecute  you  in  one  city  flee 
to  another,"  he  concluded  that  it  would  be  best  for 
him  to  leave  his  situation  without  suffering  himself 
and  bis  friends  to  be  involved  in  any  further  trouble 
and  expense.  However,  when  his  friends,  and  among 
them  an  attorney  (Timothy  Green  esq.)  assured  him 
that  all  such  characters  would  be  developed  in  a 
court  of  justice,  to  their  own  and  their  instigator's 
confusion  and  disappointment,  and  that  his  character 
was  too  well  established  in  the  church  and  the  world 
to  be  materially  affected  by  such  allegations  ;  and  also 
that  flight  would  be  esteemed,  by  some,  as  proof  of 
guilt,  and  so  bring  disgrace  upon  the  cause  of  Christ, 
he  was  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty  to  face 
the  storm,  whatever  might  be  the  consequences. 
He  did  so  ;  and  as  all  unprejudiced  persons  will  ad- 
mit, was  honourably  acquitted. 

*  That  such  a  desire  to  have  the  accused  removed  frora 
the  city,  was  felt  by  many,  has  since  been  manifested,  by  the 
means  that  have  been  used  to  effect  it.  The  public  prosecu- 
tions having  failed  to  answer  the  desired  end,  the  next  method 
resorted  to  was  that  cowardly  and  scandalous  one  of  anony- 


39 

Reporters  have  circulated  a  story  also  as  from 
Margaret  Dibble  ;  [formerly  Stnook  ;]  but  they  do 
not  tell,  that,  before  the  whole  church,  (she  being  a 
member,)  she  declared  that  she  had  nothing  to  lay 

mou3  letters,  one  or  more  of  which,  for  a  long  time,  almost 
daily  came  to  hand.  Of  these,  some  were  on  subjects  and 
in  terms  too  obscene  and  vulgar  to  be  mentioned  by  any 
one,  not  totally  lost  to  all  sense  of  virtue  and  decency 
yet  the  accused  has  no  doubt,  that  they  were  written  by 
persons  making  high  pretensions  to  morality  and  religion;  but 
couched  insuch  language  the  better  to  conceal  their  authors. — 
Others  were  in  a  threatening  tone;  suggesting  that  the  accused 
might  expect  to  be  waylaid  and  murdered  in  the  night — or  shot 
through  a  window,  in  his  own  house— or  in  the  pulpit — or 
at  the  water,  while  attending  to  baptism — or  that  his  house 
should  be  set  on  fire  and  he  burnt  in  it,  Arc— Others  were 
designed  to  depress  his  spirits,  by  telling  him  of  dreadful 
things  said  to  have  happened  to  some  of  the  character  they 
represented  him  to  be  of;  also  insisting  that  all  his  frOuMes 
were  because  he  was  a  monstrous  sinner ;  particularly  that 
whereas  he  had  lost  three  children,  one  before  he  came  to 
New- York  and  two  since,  that  they  had  been  taken  away, 
on  account  of  some  enormous  crimes  of  which  he  must 
have  been  guilty.  Sin  is,  indeed,  the  procuring  cause  of 
all  human  miseries;  but  does  it  hence  follow  that  when  in- 
dividuals are  visited  with  great  trials,  it  is  on  account 
of  some  flagrant  crimes  ?  Was  it  on  this  account  that  Job. 
whom  God  himself  pronounced  "  a  perfect  [i.  e.  sincere] 
and  upright  man,'1  had  all  his  numerous  family  cut  otf,  and 
that  in  such  a  sudden  and  remarkable  manner  ?  Is  it  on  this 
account  that  many  of  the  most  godly  in  our  own  day  are 
among  the  greatest  sufTe.-ers,  either  in  their  own  persons  or 
in  those  of  their  families — some  being  of  unsound  consti- 
tutions— some  idiots — some  deficient,  or  deformed,  or  (by 
some  providence)  maimed,  or  covered  with  some  painful 
and  nauseous  disease  ?  How  barbarous  such  insinuations  to 
a  man  in  trouble !  But  God,  in  rich  mercy,  supported 
and  comforted  him  under  all ;  and  enabled  him  to  preach 
too,  notwithstanding  his  enemies  were  careful,  generally, 
to  supply  him  with  a  letter  or  two  of  the  above  description 
just  before  times  of  public  labour,  that  they  might  have  the 
greater  effect — Others  of  those  anonymous  communications, 
re  under  pretence  of  great  friendship,  but  giving  fas  they 


40 


to  the  charge  of  the  pastor;  that  afterward,  some 
charges,  as  coming  from  her,  having  gotten  into  cir- 
culation, Messrs.  Elkanah  Mead,  Isaac  Kaqua  and 
Nicholas  B.  Lyon,  called  on  her — told  her  what  they 

would  have  been  understood)  confidential  hints  to  the  ac- 
cused of  what  he  might  apprehend,  and  suggesting  that  it 
was  expedient  for  him  to  leave  the  city  to  preserve  his  life, 
family  and  property.  But  it  was  all  lost  labour — the  ac- 
cused feit  unmoved ;  assured  that  "  the  Lord  of  hosts  was 
with  him, — that  the  God  of  Jacob  was  his  refuge." 

Another  method  taken  to  effect  the  object  of  removing 
the  accused,  was  friendly  interviews,  falsely  so  called :  a- 
mong  those  who  tried  this  method  were  Mr.  John  Rathbon, 
Merchant  of  this  city,  his  brother,  Elder  David  Rathbon 
and  David  Irish,  mentioned  p.  bX  :  each  of  whom,  in  a 
separate  interview,  and  the  Messrs.  Rathbon's  each  in  pri- 
vate,* laboured  with  the  accused,  and  under  pretence  too  of 
the  greatest  good  will,  persuading  him  to  leave  the  city. 
Mr.  John  Rathbon,  indeed,  admitted  that  he  did  not  believe 
the  reports;  but  that,  having  visited  Mrs  Stewart  and  heard 
her  accusations,  he  thought  them  to  be  such  as  must  neces- 
sarily so  affect  the  character  of  the  accused,  that  he  could 
be  of  no  further  use  here  ;  yet  that  the  church  giving  him,  as 
he  had  no  doubt  they  would,  a  good  recommendation,  he 
might  be  of  use  elsewhere.    What !  the  church  give  a  good 
recommendation  to  a  man  whose  character  was  so  bad  that 
they  could  not  retain  him  on  account  of  his  alleged  immo- 
ralities !  Or  did  he  mean  that  the  accused  was  worthy  of  a 
good  recommendation  ?  If  so,  he  was  worthy  of  being  re- 
tained by  the  church  and  it  was  his  duty,  as  he  told  Mr. 
Rathbon,  to  continue  with  the  people  who  had  borne  with 
him  the  heat  and  burden  of  persecution  :  Mr.  Rathbon,  like 
some  others,it  is  believed,feared  nothing  but  the  reproachthat 
must  be  met  in  going  to  hear  a  man  who  was  thus  accused. 
Of  this  strange  inconsistency,  however,  of  declaring  a  belief 
that  the  accused  is  innocent,  and  yet  that  he  ought  to  re- 
move, many  have  been  guilty ;  but  they  have  been,  chiefly, 
the  relations  or  friends  of  Mrs.  Wintringham — of  Leonard 
Bleecker,  or  of  some  other  person  deeply  interested,  or 
who  have  been  influenced  by  some  who  were  the  relati- 
ons or  friends  of  those  persons ;  hence  the  declaration  of 
Joseph  Winter  esq.  to  Mr.  Eldad  Holmes,  that  he  did  not 
believe  Mrs.  Wintringham  (though  he  is  by  marriage  her 


41 

had  heard,  and  that  to  them  she  solemnly  denied  hav- 
ing said  any  such  things,  and  declared  that  she  had 
neither  seen  nor  known  any  thing  amiss  of  Mr.  Par- 
kinson— that  hereupon  she  was  again  permitted  to 

uncle)  nor  the  other  women  who  had  accused  Mr.  P.  yet 
he  thought  it  best  for  him  to  leave  the  city.  The  reason 
is  obvious ;  Parkinson  would  then  be  represented  as  the 
guilty  person,  and  those  who  are  really  so,  would,  in  some 
measure,  retrieve  their  lost  refutation.  Eider  David  Rath- 
boil  argued  that  the  accused  ought  to  leave  the  city,  as  it 
would  tend  to  the  peace  of  the  Baptists  here.  A  pretty 
argument  to  be  sure  !  certain  Baptists  here,  (by  means  of 
the  slanderous  reports  which  base  individuals  had  propa- 
gated,) had  endeavoured  to  destroy  a  brother,  and  whereas 
they  had  failed  iu  the  attempt,  he  ought  now  to  leave  the 
place,  to  avoid  grieving  their  tender  consciences  !  The 
Elder  likew  ise  argued,  that  it  would  be  the  interest  of  the 
accused  so  to  do,  for  if  he  did  not,  there  could  be  no  ques- 
tion that  he  would  be  published  in  the  minutes  of  all  the 
Associations  in  the  United  States.  Moreover  he  insinu- 
ated that  the  accused  was  in  great  personal  danger,  if  he 
remained  here — "  Several  men,  said  he,  threaten  hard — you 
are  not  aware  of  your  danger — I  fear  the  consequences 
will  be  dreadful  if  you  stay,  Arc." — David  Irish  argued  chief- 
ly from  what  he  said  he  had  heard  in  Taverns  and  other 
puplic  places,  in  common  conversation ;  saying  to  the  ac- 
cused "  I  wish  you  could  travel  the  road  and  hear  the  peo- 
ple talk  about  you  as  I  have  heard  them,  you  would  certain- 
ly quit  preaching — at  least  you  would  be  sure  that  you  can 
not  maintain  your  ground  here."  Wonderful  standard  indeed 
for  trying  a  Gospel  minister !  Associations  of  tavern  haunt- 
ers, amuse  themselves  over  their  cups  in  talking  about  ill 
reports  circulated  concerning  him,  and,  therefore,  he  certain- 
ty ought  to  quit  preaching !  It  is  well  if  Irish  did  not  help 
them  to  a  few  stories  on  the  general  subject. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  inducement  of  others,  we 
have  no  doubt  that  Elder  Rathbon  and  David  Irish,  who 
came  to  the  city  together,  and  from  a  great  distance,  acted 
under  the  influence  of  the  committee  mentioned,  p.  43.  see 
also  p.  53,  and  the  note  there. 

Nor  is  the  devise  of  such  a  plan  as  the  accused  apprehen- 
ded, either  improbable  or  unprecedented.  A  similar  com- 
bination was  formed  against  the  celebrated  Mr.  John 
Wesley,  when  in  the  shite  of  Georgia. — As  the  writer 
quotes  from  memory,   he   will  not   be  certain,   but  to 


42 


come  and  did  come  to  the  Lord's  Table  with  the 
'church  :  that  after  this,  notwithstanding,  she  brought 
before  the  church  the  very  charges  she  had  solemnly 
denied,  and  there  as  solemnly  denied  having  made 
any  such  denial :  whereupon  she  w  as  necessarily  ex- 
cluded.* 

The  measures  which  have  been  taken  to  give  the 
above  charges  their  designed  effect,  it  was  intended 
to  omit,  lest  the  mention  of  them  should  be  construed 
into  a  design  to  expose  and  criminate  those  who  were 
so  industriously  employed,  in  collecting,  circulating 
and  endeavouring  to  confirm  the  stories  of  persons 
whom,  on  other  subjects,  they  do  not  themselves  be- 
lieve, and  who;  (such  of  tl«em  as  tried  the  experi- 
ment) it  is  well  known,  were  not  believed)  by  a  jury 
of  their  country,  when  undt'V  oath.  Lately,  however, 
the  authors  and  pursuers  of  those  measures,  have  ex- 
posed themselves  in  a  pamphlet;  pntitled  the  Hypocrite 
Unmasked.  This  most  contemptible  publication,  the 
accused  Mtips  so  very  IM  as  to  notice,  not  because  of 
any  apprchensionsfrom  its  ihflUence,(For  what  could  he 
fear  from  the  piiWieation  of  reports  long  before  made 
as  public  as  they  could  be?)  but  because,  rightly 

the  best  of  his  recdllecttohl3  indictments  were  found  against 
Mr.  Wesley  for  attempts  on  the  virtue  of  females,  some 
of  whom  also  were  women  of  high  standing  in  civil  society, 
but  influenced  by  their  connexions  to  take  that  method  to 
di  ve  him  away.  Now,  however  much  the  writer  and  his 
brethren  differ  from  Mr.  Wesley  in  doctrines,  they  do  not 
doubt,  that  he  was  what  men  call  ;«  rigid  moralist;  yet  he 
actually  tied  from  the  state  without  submitting  to  trial. 
See  a  History  of  Georgia,  lately  printed. 

*  The  said  Margaret  asserted  also  to  Messrs.  Raqua  and 
Mead,  that  ?he  was  induced  to  say  what  she  did  against  Mr. 
Parkinson  through  the  influence  of  Leonard  Bleecker;  that 
he  had  repeatedly  called  to  see  her,  and  followed  her  from 
place  to  place,  pressing  her  to  say  something  against  her 
pastor,  and  promising  her  that  if  *he  wouid,  it  should  be 
kept  a  secret,  &e. 


*3 


viewed,  it  serves  to  cast  much  light  on  the  characters 
and  conduct  of  those  who  have  had  the  principal 
agency  in  occasioning  to  him  and  the  church,  so 
much  trouble  ;  and  to  the  cause  of  Christ  so  much 
reproach.  It  is  ascertained,  indeed,  that  some  of 
them  deny  having  any  knowledge  of  how  the  publi- 
cation occurred,  and  that  they  even  affect  sorrow  on 
account  of  it ;  the  latter  we  partly  believe ;  but,  if 
so,  it  must  be  because  it  has  had  an  effect  contrary 
to  what  they  expected.  The  work  itself,  however 
shows  whence  it  came  :  «  I  have  now  before  me," 
says  the  writer  of  it,  «  a  manuscript,  entitled  Report 
of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Baptist  churches 
meeting  in  Fayette,  Mulberry,  Budd  and  Rose  streets 
in  this  city,"  [the  church  in  Rose  street  was  Zoar, 
now  dissolved,]  «  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  Mr. 
William  Parkinson,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  in  this  city,  and  to  confer  with  the  church 
relative  to  this  subject.  This  report  which,"  contin- 
ues the  writer,  "  contains  the  result  of  the  inquiries 
of  a  sub-committee,  appointed  to  investigate  the  char- 
ges exhibited  against  Mr.  Parkinson,  principally 
constitutes  the  evidence  on  which  the  writer  relies. 
Now  can  any  one  help  discovering  that  either  the  wri 
ter  was  himself  one  of  the  committee,  or  that  he  ob- 
tained the  manuscript  which  he  mentions,  from  the 
committee  ?  And  surely  no  one  will  suppose  that  he 
would  have  presumed  to  print  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee, or  his  observations  upon  it,  and  that  in  the 
place  where  they  reside,  without  their  consent.* 

#  Should  the  committee,  hereafter,  say  that  they  had  not 
authorized  the  publication  ;  let  it  be  remembered  that,  from 
the  face  of  it,  the  accused  was  compelled  to  believe  they 
had ;  and  as  they  have  given  no  notice  toMhe  public  of  the 
contrary,  it  appears  that  although  ashamed  to  own  the 
paltry  thing,  yet  they  were  willing  it  should  have  full  oppor- 


The  committee,  in  their  labour  of  raking  the 
streets  for  evil  reports,  and  the  means  taken  to  cir- 
culate them,  reminds  us  of  Prov.  16.  27.  "  An  un- 
godly man  diggeth  up  evil,  and  in  his  lips  there  is  a 
burning  fire  and  the  attempt  of  the  best  of  them? 
to  excuse  themselves  from  having  had  any  eoneern. 
in  the  publication,  we  think,  resembles  that  of  Aaron 
to  exculpate  himself  from  being  concerned  in  the 
idolatry  of  the  Hebrews  :  «  I,"  said  he,  «  cast  it" 
(the  metal  he  had  collected)  «  into  the  fire  and  out 
came  this  calf!"  They  cast  it,  (the  report,  compos- 
ed of  the  stories  they  had  collected)  into  the  hands 
of  some  fiery  scribbler,  and  out  came  this  calf-like 
production ! 

If  the  text  respecting  secrets  being  made  puplic? 
with  which  the  author  prefaces  his  filthy  observati- 
ons, mean  what  he  supposes,  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
he  and  some  of  his  associates  will,  one  day  appear 
to  a  great  disadvantage. 

But  what  ends  have  the  committee  answered  by 
their  publication  ?  1.  They  have  manifested  much  of 
an  envious  and  persecuting  disposition  :  2.  They  have 
drawn  upon  themselves  much  public  disapprobation : 
3.  They  have  displeased  many  of  their  friends, 
several  of  whom  have  already  been  heard  to  exclaim, 
What  a  pity  !  What  a  shame  !  &c.  that  professors 
of  religion  should  be  concerned  in  such  a  publication : 
If  Susan  Colhoun  and  Margaret  Dibble  might 
yet,  by  any  means  have  survived  the  disgrace  brought 
upon  themselves  by  their  own  stories,  the  committee 
have  rendered  it  impossible,  having  now  doomed  them 
to  common  ruin  with  Mrs. Stewart  and  Mrs.Wintring- 

tunity  of  doing  all  it  could  in  exciting  prejudices  against  the 
accused  and  the  church.  If  it  did  not  come  from  the  com 
mittee,  let  them  say  whence  it  came. 


4,5 


ham.  But  to  the  object  of  their  envy  and  malice) 
they  have  rendered  a  real  service.  Before  the  publi- 
cation, their  insinuations  led  some  to  suppose  that 
they  had  new  and  unheard  of  charges  to  produce ; 
and  that  had  they  been  permitted,  they  could  have 
convinced  the  Association  of  the  criminality  of  the 
accused  ;  but  now  their  budget  is  opened  ;  and  lo  !  a 
catalogue  of  stories,  not  only  familiar  in  all  the 
churches  of  the  Association,  and  long  before  invest!- 
gated  and  confuted  in  the  churches  immediately  con 
cerned,  but  even  talked  threadbare  in  the  world. 

The  insinuation  in  the  Hypocrite  Unmasked,  re- 
specting the  females  in  common,  of  the  church  and 
congregation  meeting  in  Gold  street,  is  too  horrid  to 
deserve  any  other  notice,  than  to  say,  It  must 
sink  with  its  author  before  the  known  respectability 
of  the  numerous  families;,  which  attend  that  place  of 
worship. 

Should  the  reader  inquire  who  they  were  that 
composed  the  committee  from  the  churches  in  Fayette 
*treet,Mulberry  street,  Budd  street,  &c.  as  the  names 
of  them  all  are  not  recollected,  he  is  referred  to  the 
said  churches  for  information  :  it  is  painful,  however, 
to  know  that  the  several  pastors  of  the  said  churches., 
were  of  the  committee.  But  whoever  they  be,  their 
publication  has  certainly  appeared,  under  all  the 
imaginable  circumstances  of  a  sneak.  Shame  or 
fear,  has  suppressed  the  name,  both  of  the  writer 
and  printer :  a  consciousness  that  it  would  not  sell? 
suggested  the  expediency  of  giving  it  away :  those 
who  keep  it  for  distribution,  are  ashamed  to  be 
known  :  [It  is  ascertained,  however,  that  John  Win- 
tringham  and  Leonard  Bleecker,  esq.  are  among  the 
honoured  distributers !]  and  as  many  would  not  ac- 
cept it  gratis,  they  are  getting  rid  of  it,  chiefly,  by 
dipping  it  under  peoples'  doors  or  throwing  it  Itife 


*6 

their  yards  in  the  night.  Of  the  sub-committee, 
who  officiated  in  the  name  of  the  general  committee, 
and,  as  such,  (painful  thought!)  in  the  name  of  the 
churches,  in  the  meanest  of  all  tmvloyments,  that  of 
inquiring  after,  and  collecting  together  slanderous 
reports^  the  public  are  left  to  form  their  own 
opinion. 

Of  his  Billingsgate  production,  the  author  of  the 
Hypocrite  Unmasked,  has  promised  his  readers  a 
series  of  numbers  :  and  as  No.  1  was  dated  the 
first  day  of  this  year,  and  consists  only  of  12  pages, 
it  has  been  expected,  that,  by  this  time,  the  under- 
standing and  virtue  of  the  public  would  have  been 
insulted  with  No.  2,  that  so  it  might  have  received 
the  notice  which  its  demerits  might  deserve  in  this 
Narrative  ;  but  as  the  nuisance  has  not  yet  appeared, 
and  as  it  may  possibly,  like  the  proposed  publication 
about  the  deacons,  remain  in  its  sty,  the  accused 
thinks  proper  not  to  wait  for  it  any  longer.*  The 
topics,  however,  proposed  for  discussion  in  it,  are, 
as  appears  from  the  close  of  No.  1,  those  which  are 
found  in,  or  relate  to,  the  printed  trial  on  the  prose- 

#  Soon  after  the  Wintringham  trial,  the  public  were  in- 
ormed  through  the  medium  of  Newspapers,  that  a  publi- 
cation would  shortly  appear,  in  which,  as  was  intimated, 
some  monstrous  things  were  to  be  said  of  the  deacons  of  the 
First BaptistChurch  inNew-York,and  who  were  all  mention- 
ed by  name.  The  design  was  easily  to  be  seen ;  it  was  to 
impress  strangers  with  the  opinion,  that  it  could  and  would 
be  made  to  appear,  that  the  officers  of  the  church  were 
base  men,  and  unworthy  of  credit — that  if  they  were  so, 
it  might  be  inferred  that  the  members  of  the  church,  gene- 
rally, were  so ;  and  therefore,  that  it  might  be  reasonably 
supposed,  that  they  had  not  hesitated  to  cover  the  crimes 
imputed  to  their  pastor.  The  enemies  of  the  church,  how- 
ever, knowing  that  they  could  not  exhibit  even  a  shadow 
of  proof  to  support  their  insinuations,  the  publication  has 
never  appeared.  But,  that  such  people  should  promise  and 
&ot  perform  excites  no  surprise. 


47 


cution  of  Mrs.  Wintringham.    Such  of  them,  there 
fore,  as  are  supposed  to  need  explanation  will  now 
be  considered.    Most  of  these  are  contained  in  the 
testimony  of  Mrs.  Wintringham. 

The  insult  which  she  stated  to  have  been  offered 
to  her  person,  is  passed  over,  it  having  been  deter- 
mined by  the  jury,  and  being  manifestly  incredible 
from  her  own  story.  But  she  represents  the  accused, 

1.  As  favouring  chin  eh-members  hi  gross  immo- 
ralities. She  instances  the  ease  of  a  woman  who 
had  been  tried  before  the  church,  and  excluded, 
under  the  charge  of  adultery ;  and  states  that 
Parkinson  was  a  great  advocate  for  her,  and  that  he 
had  spoken  of  her  as  being  a  christian,  though 
guilty  of  that  crime  ;  thus  insinuating  that  he  would 
have  had  her  continued  in  the  church,  though  believ- 
ing her  to  be  guilty.  This  hundreds  of  the  church 
well  know  to  be  a  false  representation,  and  designed 
and  calculated  to  slander  both  pastor  and  people. 
The  accused  was  indeed  an  advocate  for  her  both  in 
church  meetings  and  in  private  circles,  but  it  was,  as 
he  constantly  asserted,  because  he  believed  her  to 
be  innocent ;  for  whatever  she  might  have  been, 
he  had  never  known,  nor,  that  he  recollected,  ever 
heard  any  thing  unfavourable  to  her  moral  character 
— he  knew  her  to  have  respectable  connexions,  and 
supposed  her  to  be  a  christian  ;  and  under  these  con- 
siderations could  not  admit  the  idea  that  she  was 
guilty,  especially,  as  the  principal  witness  who  ap- 
peared against  her,  is  a  person,  subject  at  times, 
to  partial,  if  not  total  derangement.  Under  these 
impressions  he  continued  to  consider  her  innocent, 
even  after  her  exclusion,  until  she  came  to  his  house 
and  confessed  that  she  was  guilty.  And  so  far  is 
fe  from  desiring  to  retain  immoral  persons  in  fh* 


church,  that  it  is  well  known,  by  those  who  hear 
him,  that,  whenever  his  subject  in  preaching,  or 
any  occasion  in  a  church  meeting,  has  required  him 
to  express  his  opinion  on  discipline,  in  relation  to  im- 
morality, he  has  uniformly  asserted,that  any  member 
of  a  church  proved  to  be  guilty  of  any  gross  sin,  ought 
to  be  immediately  «  put  away,"  and  not  to  be  con- 
sidered nor  treated  as  a  christian — especially  not  be 
restored  to  church  membership,  but  upon  very  satis- 
factory evidence  of  repentance,  and  that  evidence 
continued  a  considerable  length  of  time. 

To  confirm  this  representation,  she  proceeds  to 
state,  that  the  accused  had  told  her,  that  he  him- 
self had  been  guilty  of  criminal  connexion  with  two 
women.  Strange  to  a  wonder  !  She  and  others  have 
represented  him,  as  artfully  acting  the  part  of  a 
christian  and  a  christian  minister,  for  the  sake  of 
money  and  popularity ;  yet  here  she  represents  him 
as  destitute  of  common  sense.  Admitting,  reader, 
that  a  young  man  of  the  world,  base  enough  to  glory 
in  such  acts,  might  tell  such  a  story  whether  true  or 
false ;  can  you,  can  any  one  capable  of  reflection* 
suppose  that  a  married  man — a  professor  of  religion* 
especially  a  preacher,  whose  all,  as  to  this  life,  de- 
pends on  his  good  character,  would,  if  even  he  were 
guilty,  make  such  a  disclosure  particularly,  would 
he  make  it  to  a  woman,  who,  according  to  her  own 
story,  had  just  been  expressing  her  indignation  a- 
gainst  him  for  only  touching  her  bosom,  and  also 

#  That  a  christian,  having  fallen  into  any  sin,  would, 
under  a  gracious  conviction  thereof,  esteem  it  a  duty  and 
even  a  privilege  to  confess  it,  is  not  doubted ;  but  in  this 
case,  the  alleged  confession  is  said  to  have  been  in  order 
to  prevail  on  her,  to  consent  that  he  should  commit  the 
same  abomination  with  her; — yea  was  accompanied  with 
an  act  of  violence ! 


signifying  her  apprehensions  that  he  was  guilty  in 
the  case  of  Mrs.  Stewart  ?  Would  he,  think  you,  as 
her  story  represents,  in  addition  to  all  the  rest,  have 
chosen  that  very  moment  to  make  another  attempt 
on  her  hosom  ? 

It  has  heen  attempted,  however,  to  confirm  her 
aceount  respecting  the  two  women,  by  a  certificate 
of  Elder  David  Irish,  representing  the  accused  to 
have  disclosed  the  same  to  one  Elijah  Shay,  and 
that  he  made  the  same  known  to  Irish.    Seeing  that 
these  men  (in  some  respects  well  classed  together) 
endeavoured  by  falsehood  to  destroy  a  man  innocent 
of  their  charges,  the  accused,  in  defence  of  himself 
and  the  church  he  serves,  is  compelled  to  tell  the 
truth  concerning  them ;  that  so  it  may  be  known  not 
only  how  unworthy  they  are  of  credit,  but  moreover 
how  little  confidence  ought  to  be  reposed  in  the  judg= 
ment,  the  proceedings  and  even  the  motives  of  the 
better  class  of  those  engaged  against  the  accused; 
seeing  that  they  have  confided  in  such  witnesses, 
and  have  concealed  their  faults  to  secure  efficacy  to- 
their  testimony.    Elijah  Shay  had  been  (painful  to 
relate)  a  Baptist  preacher ;  originally  of  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Virginia.*    About  the  year  1800,  he  re- 
moved to  Alexandria — some  time  after  joined  the 
church  there,  by  letter ;  kept  some  kind  of  a  store, 
and  occasionally  preached.    As  the  accused  often 
visited  and  preached  at  Alexandria*  he  saw  Shay 
several  times  among  his  hearers,  and  was  introduced 
to  him  as  a  preacher;  once  also  he  was  a  few  minute? 

*  The  following  lengthy  account  of  Shay,  (now  a  com- 
mon drunkard  in  Alexandria)  the  accused  is  forced  to  give, 
that  it  may  appear  how  he  wa3  imposed  on  by  him ;  be- 
cause it  has  been  said,  "  If  Parkinson  knew  him  to  be  a  bad 
man  why  did  he  permit  him  to  preach  in  his  pulpit  ?'* 


50 


at  Shay's  house.  In  1804  the  accused  removed  to 
this  city — about  two  years  after  he  was  informed, 
by  a  letter  from  a  Virginia  friend,  that  Shay  wa* 
silenced  and  excluded  from  the  church  ;  also  he  had 
received  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  Baltimore 
Association,  in  which  Shay  was  mentioned  as  being 
no  longer  in  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptists.  In  the 
summer  of  1809  Shay  came  to  this  city,  and  fell  in 
with  Dr.  Me  Intosh,  who  brought  him  to  Mr.  Samuel 
F.  Randolph's,  where  the  Dr.  introduced  him  to  the 
accused  as  a  Southern  acquaintance :  the  accused 
said  that  he  had  seen  Mr.  Shay  before  ;  and  present- 
ly desired  a  private  interview  with  him,  which  he 
had :  the  accused,  not  having  expected  ever  to  see 
Shay  in  New- York,  had  not  particularly  charged  his 
memory  with  the  accounts  received  of  him,  and 
could  not  recollect  how  he  had  received  them ;  never- 
theless he  felt  impressed  that,  by  some  means,  he 
had  been  informed  that  Shay  had  been  excommuni- 
cated, and  that  one  of  his  crimes  was  drunkenness 
— he  mentioned  to  him  his  impressions — Shay  re- 
plied «  Your  information  is  certainly  very  incorrect; 
for  I  never  was  a  member  of  the  church  in  Alexan- 
dria— although  I  resided  there,  my  membership  re- 
mained in  the  church  I  first  joined  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  hereupon  also  he  exhibited  certificates  not 
only  from  the  church  of  which  he  professed  to  be  a 
member,  but  likewise  from  gentlemen  of  high  stand- 
ing in  civil  life,  certifying  his  excellence  of  charac- 
ter, &c.  As  to  drinking,  ke  admitted  that  for  a  short 
time,  on  account  of  the  base  conduct  of  his  wife, 
whom  he  represented  as  being  fond  of  other  men, 
he  had  drank  too  freely,  but  declared  that  he  had 
never  been  drunk,  and  that  long  since,  froja  a  sense 
of  the  evil,  he  had  abandoned  the  practice,  and 


51 

Used  no  ardent  spirits  at  all. — The  accused  presumed 
that  his  information  concerning  Shay  might  he  incor- 
rect :  nevertheless  he  thought  it  expedient  not  to 
invite  him  to  preach:  however,  on  leaving  him,  he 
began  to  reflect  that  he  was  acting  without  evidence, 
[not  recollecting  the  letter  and  Association  minutes 
received]  and  dealing  hardly  with  a  stranger  in  a 
strange  place  ;  he  could  not  be  satisfied,  but  ad- 
dressed a  note  to  Dr.  Mcintosh  requesting  that  he 
would  invite  him  to  preach  that  evening.  [Thursday.] 
He  preached  ;  and,  being  invited,  he  preached  a- 
gain  the  following  Lord's  day  morning — The  family 
of  the  accused  being  then  on  a  visit  to  the  South- 
ward, lie  enjoyed  the  favor  of  hoard  at  Mr.  Alex- 
ander L.  Stewarts,  (Broadway,)  but  lodged  at  his 
own  house,  for  the  convenience  of  being  in  his  study 
evenings  and  mornings.  He  took  Shay  to  Mr. 
Stewart's  where  he  was  kindly  treated  as  an  ac- 
quaintance of  the  accused ;  and  learning  that  he 
was  in  verv  straitened  circumstances,  the  accused 
collected,  among  his  friends,  some  money  for  him 
and  gave  him  some  clothing,  &c.  One  day,  as  Shay 
and  the  accused  were  walking  through  the  Park? 
Shay  mentioned  his  trial  with  his  wife;  whereupon 
(having  sit  down)  he  related,  at  length,  the  lamen- 
table story,  and  the  ill  use  that  had  been  made  of 
it  against  himself;  particularly  that  it  had  givett 
rise  to  reports,  that  he  had  been  too  familiar  with 
other  women.  On  hearing  these  things,  the  accused, 
believing  him  to  be  iunocent,  felt  much  sympathy 
with  him;  and,  to  comfort  him  under  injuries,  pro- 
ceeded to  inform  him  that  lie  was  not  alone  the  ob- 
ject of  slander — that  he  (the  accused)  had  been 
also  aspersed,  but  that  ministers  of  Christ  must  ex- 
pect these  things.    The  accused  related  what*  in 

o 


52 


particular,  had  been  said  of  himself;  viz:  that  the 
summer  after  he  had  first  been  chaplain  to  C  ongress, 
some  man  in  the  country,  an  enemy  to  all  godliness, 
had  said  to  some  one  who  was  speaking  highly  of 
the  accused,  that  he  supposed  Parkinson,  by  (hat 
time,  had  two  or  three  bastards  in  the  city  ;  also 
that,  at  about  the  same  time,  the  same  man,  or 
some  other  of  like  description  had  said,  that  he  was 
in  gaol  for  stealing  a  horse  ;#  but  that  no  one  gave 
any  credit  to  the  sayings,  and  that  they  had  not 
been  heard  of  in  the  city  [Washington]  until  the  ac- 
cused (after  re-elected  chaplain)  went  to  the  city 
and  there  mentioned  them  himself:  the  accused  also 
related  to  Shay  the  particulars  of  the  story  of  Susan 
Colhoun,  and  the  evidences  of  its  falsehood.  A  few 
days  after,  Shay  left  this  city  bound  to  the  North; 
palming  himself  upon  the  people  as  he  went,  as  an 
acquaintance  of  the  accused, — as  having  preached  for 
him,  &e.  From  Albany  and  other  places  further 
north,  he  wrote  to  the  accused  several  letters,  (not 
less  it  is  thought  than  eight  or  ten,)  pressing  con- 
tinually for  an  answer.  The  accused,  however, 
judged  it  prudent,  before  answering  him,  to  write 

*  Why  has  not  this  report  been  circulated  by  the  ene~ 
mies  of  the  accused  as  well  as  others?  Because  no  one, 
asserting  it,  could  expect  to  be  believ  ed  :  every  one  must 
know  that  it  could  be  easily  disproved ;  yea  that  it  was  im- 
possible that  a  man,  who  was  travelling  much  through  his 
own  and  neighbouring  states,  could,  at  the  same  time,  be 
in  confinement.  But  reports  which  involve  no  such  im- 
possibility, and  which  it  must  be  much  more  convenient 
for  strangers  and  ail  disinterested  persons  to  admit,  than  to 
investigate,  have  been  freely  propagated,  even  by  persons 
Avho,  in  their  own  consciences,  give  them  no  credit.  Thus, 
as  of  old,  while  soir.e  are  hase  enough  to  say,  "  Come  and 
let  us  devise  devices  against  Jeremiah,"  others  are  deceit- 
ful enough  to  say  "  Rei-ort  (on'y  set  it  agoing)  and  we  will 
'  eportit."  See  Jer.  18.  18,  and  20,  10. 


53 


to  Alexandria  and  gain  certain  knowledge  of  his  con- 
dition ;  he  'lid  so,  and  received  for  answer  that  Shay 
had  joined  tiic  church  there,  and  that  he  had  been  ex- 
eluded  for  drunkenness  and  oilier  misdemeanors  ;  also 
a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  Baltimore  Association, 
in  w  hich  he  was  mentioned  as  an  impostor,  of  whom 
the  churches  were  advertised.    Now  the  accused  re- 
collected that  he  had  seen  these  minutes  before  :  and, 
being  convinced  that  all  the  papers  Shay  had  exhi- 
bited were  forged — that  he  had  no  authority  to  offi- 
ciate as  a  minister  ;  yea,  that  he  was  a  man  notorious- 
ly regardless  of  tri  tb,  he  of  course  would  not  and 
did  not  answer  one  of  his  letters.    The  silence  of  the 
accused,  probably,  led  Shay  to  suppose  that  he  had 
heard  the  truth  from  Alexandria,  and  that  he  would 
communicate  it  to  the  churches  on  which  he  (Shay) 
was  imposing;  therefore,  as  appears  by  after  circum- 
stances,^tbat  any  communications  from  the  accused 
might  have  the  less  effect.  Shay  began  to  circulate 
the  stories  which  he  had  heard  the  accused  relate 
as  mere  matters  of  report,  as  being  true  and  as  con- 
fessed to  him  to  be  true.    In  Oct.  1810,  a  man  (the 
accused  thinks  by  the  name  of  If  ill)  who  had  been  a 
member  of  the  church  in  Mulberry  street  in  this  city, 
but  had  removed  to  the  neighbourhood  which  Shay 
was  then  ranging,  came  to  the  city  and  informed  his 
friends  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Shay  (in  the  opin- 
ion of  theBaptists  a  very  suspicious  character) was  do- 
ing much  mischief  in  the  country  where  he  w  as — that 
he  was  injuring  ministers,  and  among  others  Parkin- 
son, by  circulating  a  number  of  ill  reports  concerning 
him.    On  Lord's  day  morning  Nov.  4. 1810,  the  ac- 
cused preached  in  Mulberry  street;  Mr.  Hill  (if  that 
be  the  man's  name)  being  present,  came  home  with 
him  to  communicate  and  receive  some  particular* 


5* 

respecting  Shay :  he  urged  the  accused  to  write  to 
some  Northern  minister  an  account  of  Shay ;  and 
Mr.  Maclay  (pastor  of  Mulberry  street  church)  also 
repeatedly  urged  him  to  write,  saying  «  He  is  not  only 
disturbing  the  churches  there,  but  he  is  doing  all  he 
can  to  injure  your  character  by  circulating  false  re- 
ports among  strangers."  The  accused  intended  to 
write  ;  but  was  prevented  by  other  pressing  avocati- 
ons, until  a  month  or  more,  when  he  received  a 
letter  from  Elder  Peter  Thurston,  then  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Cats-kill,  who  had  been  solicited  by 
two  Northern  preachers  to  write  to  Parkinson  rer 
questing  him  to  communicate  what  he  knew  con- 
cerning Shay.  In  answer  to  him  the  accused  wrote 
a  full  account  of  Shay,  which  was  used  to  convince 
the  people  that  Shay  was  an  impostor. — After  the 
trial  of  the  accused  on  the  prosecution  of  Mrs. 
AVintringham,  was  printed  and  circulated  through 
the  country,  Shay,  getting  hold  of  it  and  observing 
in  Mrs.  Wintringhaurs  testimony  the  alleged  con- 
fession of  guilt  with  two  women,  he  accommodated 
his  story  to  it,  and  said  to  Irish  and  others,  "  You 
would  not  believe  me,  but  here  see  the  same  stated 
tinder  oath."  Recollect,  reader,  before  you  pass, 
that  the  alleged  confession  to  Shay  was  after  the 
accused  had  spoken  to  him  of  a  report  that  he  drank 
too  freely,  and  for  which  he  had  hesitated  to  ask 
him  to  preach ;  can  any  one  then  believe  that  he 
would  (if  even  guilty)  have  confessed  to  him  crimes 
of  a  much  deeper  dye  ?  However,  in  the  following 
winter  Irish  came  to  New- York ;  and,  accompanied 
by  Elder  Daniel  Hall,  came  to  the  house  of  the  ac- 
cused ;  after  much  other  conversation,  relating,  chief- 
ly, to  the  crimes  imputed  to  the  accused,  the  charges 
of  Mrs.  Wlintringham  were  mentioned.    The  ac- 


ca 


eused  noticed  how  improbable  all  her  testimony  was 
rendered  by  her  story  respecting  the  two  women  ; 
to  which  Irish  replied,  "  We  have  thought  8of  that, 
but  then  there  came  a  man  into  our  country,  and  we 
believe  him  to  be  a  lying  man  too,  but  then  he  told 
lis  the  same  story,  and  her  story  agreeing  with  his, 
we  know  not  how  to  discredit  it."  The  accused  sub- 
joined, «  I  suppose  I  know  who  that  man  is — he 
must  be  Elijah  Shay."  Irish  then  gave  a  certificate 
of  his  conversation  with  the  accused,  which  was  cir- 
culated, by  his  enemies,  with  great  triumph  ;  say- 
ing 66  How  could  Parkinson  know  who  the  man  was 
before  Irish  mentioned  his  name,  if  he  had  not  had 
a  consciousness  of  having  made  such  a  confession  to 
him?"  How  could  Parkinson  know  who  the  man 
was !  How,  pray,  could  he  help  but  know  who  he 
was  ?  Had  he  not  been  told  by  Mr.  Hill,  from  that 
neighbourhood,  and  repeatedly  by  Mr.  Maclay,  that 
Shay  was  there  circulating  evil  reports  concerning 
him  ?  Here,  reader,pause — and  form  your  ow  n  opinion 
of  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Maclay,  who  witnessed  all 
this  imposition — all  this  exertion  to  ruin  a  fellow 
creature  (not  to  say  a  fellow  professor)  and  yet  would 
not  even  open  his  lips  to  correct  the  horrid  misre- 
presentation.* 

As  it  will  be  thought  scarcely  possible,  that  a 
man  of  Mr.  Maclay's  pretensions,  can  have  been 
guilty  of  such  an  offence,  hy  silence,  let  the  pub- 
lic consider  his  offence,  in  the  following  extraor- 
dinary declaration,  and  which  the  writer  leaves 
others  to  call  by  its  proper  name  :  in  May  1812., 
on  the  floor  of  the  Association,  and  surrounded  by  a 

*  It  has  lately  been  ascertained,  moreover,  that  Irish  left 
the  certificatate  at  the  special  request  of  the  busy  committee, 
of  which  Maclay  was  a  member.    See  p.  44. 


56 


numerous  crowd  of  spectators,  Mr.  Maclay,  while 
endeavouring  to  make  the  impression  that  he  and  his 
church,  in  excluding  from  their  fellowship  the  First 
Church  and  its  pastor,  had  acted  from  the  holiest  mo- 
tives and  the  most  painful  necessity,  declared  that 
when  they  passed  the  act,  they  were  so  affected,  that 
«  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  house     this,  tho'  pos- 
sihle,  was  generally  doubted  when  the  declaration 
was  made  ;  and  members  of  his  own  church  assert 
that  they,  altho'  at  the  time  in  the  house,  saw  no 
weeping  there ;  moreover  one  of  them  asserts  that, 
among  the  females,  there  was  considerable  tittering. 
However  much  some  may  be  surprised  at  hearing  of 
the  above  declaration,  all  who  witnessed  the  manifest 
affectation  of  sorrow  and  crying  at  the  Association, 
particularly  by  Maclay  and  Irish  can  easily  account 
for  it.    See  sermon  p.  25. 

But  what  must  be  your  astonishment,  reader,  when 
you  are  informed  that  the  said  David  Irish,  within  a 
few  years  past,  had  himself,  by  report,  been  under 
the  accusations,  both  of  drunkenness  and  adultery. 
Whether  the  accusations  be  true  or  not,  we  do  not 
pretend  to  know,  and  are  willing  to  abide  by  the  de- 
cisions of  the  church  to  which  he  belongs,  assured 
that  they  must  have  had  access  to  the  best  means  of 
information  ;  but  that  on  account  of  the  said  accusa- 
tions, he  was  for  a  considerable  time  silent,  we  have 
such  evidence  as  we  feel  forbidden  to  doubt.* 

*  That  he  had  been  accused  of  being  the  father  of  an 
illegitimate  child,  and  other  evil  things,  he  mentioned  him- 
self, while  in  this  city.  On  having  mentioned  it,  he  added, 
however,  that  the  church  had  discovered  no  disposition  to  be- 
lieve the  charges :  and  that  if  they  had,  he  would  not  have 
acted  like  Parkinson, — he  would  have  ceased  preaching, 
until  the  matter  had  :>een  cleared  up  :  but  did  he  not  very 
well  know  that  the  church  which  Parkinson  serves  had  die- 


51 


From  a  certificate  (a  very  poor  one  too)  which  he 
exhibited  to  the  New- York  Association,  (May  1812)  it 
appeared  that,  at  that  time,  he  had  authority  from  his 
church  to  preach;  but  as  (hat  was  of  a  very  recent 
date,  it  was  no  how  inconsistent  with  his  having  been 
lately  under  the  imputation  of  the  crimes  mentioned, 
nor  of  his  silence  on  that  account.  On  the  contrary, 
it  rather  served  to  show  that  such  had  been  his  cir- 
cumstances ;  for  if  not,  why  should  he,  a  man  long 
in  the  ministry — a  man  who  had  been  so  often  named, 
in  Association  minutes  as  pastor  of  a  church,  and  also 
in  the  Magazine  published  by  the  Massachusetts 
Baptist  Missionary  Society,  as  one  of  their  mission- 
aries— why,  it  is  asked,  should  he  carry  with  him  a 
trifling  certificate  dated  within  a  few  months,  shew- 
ing that  then  he  had  authority  from  his  church  to 
preach  ?  *  Of  his  knowledge  and  prudence  in  matters 

covered  nothing  like  a  belief  of  the  charges  against 
him.  However,  as  we  have  proof  that  Irish,  on  account 
of  charges  exhibited  against  him,  did,  for  a  time  cease 
preaching,  he  is  evidently,  in  this  case,  implicated  in  false- 
hood. 

*  Whether  he  was  restored  to  the  privilege  of  preaching 
upon  evidence  of  penitence,  or  of  innocence ,we  have  not  learn- 
ed; if  upon  evidence  of  the  former,  he  ought  not  to  have 
been  forward  in  accusing  others ;  and  if  upon  evidence  of 
the  latter,  he  ought  to  have  considered,  that  another  might  be 
also  falsely  accused,  and,  therefore,  to  have  endeavoured 
rather  to  support  than  to  destroy  him.  Besides,  it  appears 
that,  notwithstanding  his  frequent  representations  to  the  con- 
trary, he  did  not  even  consider  the  accused  as  guilty ;  for, 
in  the  presence  of  Mr.  James  Hall,  he  expressed  himself 
thus :  "  If  Mr.  Parkinson  and  the  church,  would  only  cou- 
sent  to  let  me  and  others,  be  a  committee  to  decide  the  mat- 
ter, I  have  no  doubt  that  the  result  would  be  favorable  to 
him,  and  then  I  could  set  him  up,  upon  the  walls  of  Zion  all 
the  way  as  I  go  home."  Observe,  reader,  what  a  great  man 
Mr.  Irish  is  !  He  can  sink  or  raise  another,  at  pleasure,  by 
his-  word  !  The  accused,  however,  considers  it  a  favor,  not 
to  have  had  Mr.  Irish  employed  in  rendering  him  that  ser 


58 

of  discipline,  he  gave,  while  in  New- York,  this  ¥*~ 
markable  specimen :  Having  enlisted  in  the  war 
against  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  this  city,  he  was 
much  engaged  in  persuading  members  to  leave  it; 
and  having  been  invited  by  the  husband  of  a  worthy 
sister*  in  the  church  to  use  his  influence  to  prevail  on 
her  to  take  a  dismission,  he,  in  the  course  of  his  en- 
deavors to  effect  that  purpose,  said  to  her,  and  in  the 
presence  of  her  husband,  words  to  this  amount :  *  <  If 
my  wife  would  persist  in  going  to  hear  Parkinson 
preach,  it  should  be  the  cause  of  our  separation."! 
How  did  this  comport  with  the  declaration  of  Christ 
Matt.  5.  32  ?  Yet  he  was  talked  of  as  one  pre-emi- 
nently calculated  to  be  appointed  on  a  committee  by 
the  Association,  to  determine  the  fate  of  the  First 
Church  and  its  pastor !  Irish  resides  at  the  Cayuga 
Lake,  about  400  miles  from  this  city  ;  nevertheless 
we  have  no  doubt  that  he  was  specially  invited^:  and 
that  he  came  for  the  special  purpose  of  assisting  in 
the  combination  against  the  accused  and  the  church 
he  serves. §  The  collections  made  for  him  in  Mul- 
berry and  Fayette  streets  probably  well  compensated 

vice,  lest  his  character  should  have  been  estimated  by  that 
©f  his  eulogist. 

#  Her  name  should  be  mentioned  (especially  as  Leonard 
Bleecker  mentioned  her  at  court,  as  one  who  had  left  the 
church)  but  for  the  opposition  of  her  husband. 

f  This,  indeed,  he  afterward  denied,  on  its  being  mention- 
ed to  him,  by  Elder  Daniel  Hall;  but,  as  her  husband  was 
present,  he  is  left  to  decide,  whether  his  wife  or  Irish  is  t« 
be  believed. 

|  Recollect  that  Mr.  Maclay  had  an  acquaintance  there. 

§  The  ostensible  reason  assigned  for  his  first  visit  to  this 
city — the  visit  during  which  he  had  the  aforementioned  in- 
terview with  the  accused,  is  that  he  came  to  accompany  a 
sick  man  to  a  Doctor;  but  it  is  much  more  probable  that  he 
was  coming  and  that  the  sick  man  took  the  opportunity  of 
his  company  :  be  that  as  it  may,  we  have  abundant  reason 
to  believe,  that,  at  the  time  of  the  Association  he  came  by 


59 

him  for  his  unsuccessful  services ;  and  this  publica- 
tion it  is  hoped  will  teach  him,  in  future,  to  take  the 
advice  of  Dr.  Franklin  :  «  Mind  your  own  business." 
But  to  return  to  the  testimony  of  Mrs.  ^Vintringhara, 
She  represents  the  accused 

2.  As  having  made  to  her  professions  of  love.  As 
an  evidence  of  this,  she  states  that  the  accused  hav- 
ing preached  from  Cant.  2.  5,  «  Stay  me  with  flagons, 
comfort  me  with  apples,  for  I  am  sick  of  love,"  he 
accommodated  the  text  to  her.    The  accused  did 
preach  from  the  text,  on  a  Thursday  evening,  and 
next  day  was  at  Mr.  AVintringham's  ;  when  some 
conversation  past,  as  asual,  respecting  the  sermon* 
But  whether  he  accommodated  the  text  to  her,  or 
otherwise  pretended  any  unlawful  passion  for  her, 
the  reader  is  left  to  judge,  while  the  accused  affirms 
that,  to  the  best  of  his  recollection,  whatever  conver- 
sation past,  respecting  the  text  or  sermon,  was  in  the 
presence  of  her  husband,  who  also  took  part  iu  what 
was  said.    But  let  circumstanees  speak  ;  her  fond- 
ness for  the  accused  was  such,  that  she  followed  him, 
not  only  wherever  she  could,  through  the  city,  but 
even  into  the  country,  as  was  made  to  appear  in  court; 
supposing  him  then  to  have  felt  the  passion  of  love 
for  her,  which  she  has  attributed,  but  which  lie  ut- 
terly denies;  could  it  have  been  necessary,  for  him  to 
resort  to  such  measures  to  engage  her  attention,  or 
gain  her  affection  ?    Even  after  she,  with  others, 
had  taken  a  dismission  from  the  church,  to  form  a 
new  society,  she,  as  was  proved  in  court,  pursued  him 
as  before,  and  pressed  him  to  go  to  her  house — lie  at 
three  successive  times,  as  was  stated  by  different  wit 
nesses  under  oath,  refused, absolutely  refused  to  com- 

3peeial  agreement  and  engagement  with  <he  commit  fee  for 
certain  members  of  it)  mentioned  p.  44- 


pij.# — Then  she  was  taken  sick,  and  on  what  account 
the  public  are  left  to  judge.  Having  lost  all  hope  of 
success,  and  having  perhaps,  undergone  a  change 
from  one  extreme  to  the  other,  when  she  a  little  re- 
covered, out  came  her  charges  ! 

But  not  content  with  talking  of  professions  of  love 
to  herself,  she  accuses  of  similar  professions  made 
to  Mrs  Brown,  and  Mrs.  Brown  also  is  represented, 
by  common  report,  as  asserting  the  same.  Shocking 
above  description,  that  married  women  should  talk 
in  that  way  of  a  man  whom  (according  to  their  own 
atory)  all  the  time  they  say  he  was  making  those  pro- 
fessions, they  were  following  with  the  greatest  atten- 
tion, and  admiring  and  extolling  as  a  preacher,  above 
every  other.  Their  attention  it  is  true,  began  to  be 
talked  of  as  capable  of  receiving  some  unfavourable 
construction,  but  he  still,  charitably,  supposed  that  it 
might  be  only  an  expression  e*f  their  great  attach- 
ment to  his  ministry.  How  much  credit  is  due  to  the 
charge  of  Mrs.  Brown,  may  be  concluded  from  the 
following  facts.  Nearly  a  year  before  the  accusations 

*  Here,  let  the  reader  recollect,  that  Mrs.  Phebe  Baker,. 
[No.  13  Front  s't.]  and  Mrs.  Ann  Moore,  [No.  17  Chatham 
g  1.]  both  at  the  trial,  testified  that,  to  them,  [to  the  former, 
on  the  30th  of  March,  and  to  the  latter  on  the  4th  or  5th  of 
April,  1811,]  Mrs.  Wintringham  had  spoken  of  the  accused 
in  the  highest  terms — lamented  his  being  persecuted  as  he 
was  by  Mrs.  Stewart- — declared  that  she  did  not  believe  a 
word  of  the  charges  against  him,  and  gave  as  her  reason  for 
not  believing  him  guilty,  that  she  had  been  much  in  his 
company,  and  had  he  been  a  man  of  that  character,  she 
should  have  seen  il ;  whereas  she  had  never  in  her  life  seen 
any  thing  amiss  in  him ;  but  that  he  had  always  behaved 
like  a  christian.  These  declarations,  observe,  Mrs.  W.  made 
concerning  the  accused,  after  the  date  of  the  last  insult  of 
which  she  complained.  Also  on  the  3d  of  April,  1811,  she 
paid  a  friendly  visit  at  the  house  of  the  accused.  See  Trial 
p.  24,  51. 


61 


sf  "Mrs.  Stewart  had  gone  abroad,  Mrs.  Brown  bad 
removed  to  Albany  :  when  Mrs.  Stewart's  accusations 
reached  that  place,  Mrs.  Brown  was  there  one  oF  the 
warmest  advocates  of  the  accused,  urging  that  she 
had  herself  been  much  in  his  company,  and  that  she 
had  not  seen  or  known  any  thing  amiss  of  him.* 
This  is  known  to  friends  and  foes.  While  the  Stew- 
art trial  was  pending  she  came  to  New- York- 
came  to  the  house  of  the  accused  with  her  husband, 
and  appeared  as  friendly  as  ever.  At  Mrs.  Margaret 
Todd's  (Gold  street,)  she  related  to  Mrs.  Todd  and 
her  daughter,  that  she  had  felt  such  an  interest  in. 
Mr.  Parkinson's  favour,  that,  on  that  account  more 
than  asy  other,  she  had  come  to  the  city,  hoping  that 
she  miglit  be  of  some  service  to  him  as  a  witness. 
Her  mother  also  came  with  her  to  the  city,  and  ac- 
companied her,  once  at  least,  to  the  house  of  the  ac- 
cused, apparently  possessing  all  the  friendship  for 
him  that  she  had  ever  possessed.  Mrs.  Brown's  af- 
ter opposition  is  to  be  accounted  for  only  in  this  way  ; 
and  which  also,  in  a -measure,  accounts  for  the  resent- 
ment of  Mrs.  Wintringham  ;  they,  as  Mrs.  Win- 
tringham's  own  story  shows,  had  long  before  had 
conversations  respecting  the  accused,  by  means  of 
which  each  was  assured  ©f  the  other's  imprudence  $ 
and  (having  had  some  disagreement,)they  threatened, 
and  feared  each  other ;  and  probably  both  were  afraid 
that,  if  the  matter  should  be  agitated,  the  accused 
might  state  facts  that  would  show  them  to  have  beea 
very  indiscreet:  each,  therefore,  to  accommodate 

*At  about  that  time  Eider  Isaac  Webb,  formerly  of  Troy, 
now  of  Albany,  came  to  the  city  ;  and  during  a  short  in- 
terview had  with  him  at  deacon  Bedienfs,  he  observed  to 
she  accused  in  substance  what  follows :  "  You  have  at 
least  one   good  friend   and  advocate  in  Albauy — -Mrs, 


62 


matters  at  home,  and  to  weaken  the  influence  of  the 
accused,  should  he  expose  their  foolish  and  forward 
behaviour,  so  arranged  their  stories  as  to  throw  the 
blame  on  him.    That  iVl rs.  Wintringham  was  an  ene- 
my to  Mrs.  Brown  and  aimed  to  injure  her  is  appa- 
rent from  her  testimony ;  and  that  Mrs.  Brown  is 
sensible  that  Mrs.  Wintringhain's  prosecution  was 
unjust,  we  prove  by  her  own  words  in  a  letter  to 
deacon  John  Bedient,  dated  Sept.  9,  1811  :  "  I  re 
gret  exeeedingly5,  says  she,  "  that  the  church  did 
not  send  for  me  as  a  witness.    As  to  Mrs.  Wintring- 
ham, she  did  not  dare  send  for  me  :  Oh  Mr.  Bedient, 
had  you  but  sent  for  me,  there  never  would  have  been 
a  trial  ;  for  had  I  have  went  before  the  grand  jury, 
I  would  have  defied  her  to  have  got  an  indictments 
and  1  would  have  proved  what  I  should  have  sworn 
to,  by  Mr.  Bleecker,"    If  Mrs.  Brown  has  said,  (as 
represented,)  that  the  accused  ever  took  any  impro- 
per liberties  with  her,  or  in  any  way  endeavoured  to 
seduce  her,  it  is  thought  sufficient  to  state  her  own 
declarations  to  the  contrary,  contained  in  the  letter 
above  mentioned  :  her  words  concerning  the  accused 
are  these  :  «  1  say  that  I  have  not  been  insulted  by 
him  with  bad  actions,  neither  have  I  ever,  nor  do  \ 
now  believe  that  he  meant  to  seduce  me  ;  I  have  been 
thus  explicit,"  continues  she, «  that  you  or  any  mem- 
ber in  the  church,  may  have  an  opportunity,  should 
any  person  attempt  to  say,  that  I  ever  have  asserted 
any  thing  of  that  nature,  to  contradict  it  in  my  own 
writing ;  this  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  do."  Hence 
observe,  reader,  that  the  use  of  these  extracts  is 
agreeable  to  her  own  request,  and  so  not  exposing  a 
confidential  letter. 

Here,  though  with  the  utmost  reluctance,  we  arc 
compelled  to  introduce,  even  the  aged  mother  of  Mrs. 


63 


Brown  (Mrs.  Sarah  Butler)  greatly  to  her  disadvan- 
tage :  yet  she  can  have  no  reason  to  blame,  either  the 
accused  or  the  church,  but  the  committee  [p. 44]  who, 
like  Bleecker  and  Me  Intosh,  have  given  abundant 
evidence  that  they  cared  not  who  they  destroyed  by 
the  way,  if  they  could  but  destroy  Parkinson,  and  in- 
jure the  church  of  which  he  is  pastor,  in  the  end, 
For  although,  as  will  presently  appear,  she  had  as- 
serted what  was  not  true,  and  although  the  church, 
on  coming  to  the  knowledge  thereof,  excluded  her, 
still  both  they  and  their  pastor  would  have  scorned  to 
publish  her  to  the  world,  had  not  her  untruth,  to 
their  injury,  gone  abroad  under  the  sanction  of  the 

committee  That  committee  waited  on  Mrs.  Butler 

to  hear  what  she  could  say  against  Parkinson,  and 
they  report  that  she  told  them,  That  she  had  sent 
for  him — reproved  him  severely  for  improper  be- 
haviour to  Susan  [Mrs.  Brown]  and  forbid  him  any 
more  to  come  to  the  house  ;  and  that  he  replied,  The 
house  is  notyour's,madam, — it  is  your  daughter's,  and 
I  will  come  as  often  as  I  please — and  it  is  none  of  youv 
business.*    This  the  committee  incorporated  into 
their  report,  although  Mr.  WyckofF,  one  of  the  com- 
mittee objected,  saying,  "  I  have  my  doubts  about  the 
truth  of  that,  for  Parkinson  is  not  in  the  habit  of  us- 
ing such  language."    Mr.  WyckofF  and  two  others  of 
the  committee  solicited  an  interview  with  about  the 
same  number  of  the  First  Church,  professedly,  out 
of  friendship,  to  let  them  see  the  report.    What  par- 
ticular purpose  they  expected  to  answer  by  the  inter- 
view is  best  known  to  themselves ;  but  we  believe  that 
they  calculated,  thereby,  either  to  excite  alarm,  or 
to  gain  an  advantage,  by  something  that  might  be 
said.    The  interview,  however,  was  had:  dea.  Ni- 


*  Mrs.  Butler  lived  with  her  son-in-law 


uliolas  B.  Lyon,  dea  John  Bedient  and  bro*  Elkanab 
Mead,  on  the  part  of  the  First  Church,  being  present. 
By  this  means  the  First  Church  came  to  the  know- 
ledge of  what  Mrs.  Butler  was  represented  to  have 
said.  Whether  she  had  said  so,  and  if  she  had, 
whether  it  was  true,  it  was  important  for  the  church 
to  know.  Mrs.  Butler  and  Mrs.  Brown  were,  there- 
fore, both  cited  to  appear  before  the  church — Mrs* 
Brown  did  not  come  :  Mrs.  Butler  appeared  before 
the  church,  and  there  solemnly  denied  ever  having 
said  any  such  thing.  A  falsehood  was  now  manifest, 
but  whether  told  by  Mrs.  Butler  or  the  committee, 
remained  to  be  proved  :  this  was  soon  done  by  Mrs* 
Hannah  Carman,  who,  being  waited  on  by  a  com- 
mittee from  the  church,*  declared  that  Mrs.  Butler 
bad  said  the  same  to  her  that  the  committee  had  re- 
ported her  to  have  said  to  them.  Mrs.  Butler  was 
then  necessarily,  excluded  from  the  ehurch. 

To  confirm  the  accusations  of  Mrs.  Wintringham,! 
the  testimony  of  Bleecker  and  Mc  Intosh  is  introduc- 
ed. To  give  a  show  of  plausibility  to  this  manufac- 
ture, the  meeting  at  Mc  Intosh's  was  contrived  ;  and 
which  the  accused  ascribes  chiefly,  to  Me  Intosh  and 
Mrs.  Wintringham ;  believing  that  Bleecker  and 
Mrs.  Brown  were  designed  merely  as  a  kind  of  aux- 
iliaries, and,  if  necessary,  to  be  witnesses ;  they  hav- 
ing, then,  a  little  more  weight  of  character,  than  the 
other  two.  The  parties  being  assembled,!  Bleecker 
mentioned,  as  from  Mrs.  Wintringham,  three  accusa- 
tions ;  viz.  professions  of  love — perversion  of  a  text 
of  scripture — and  an  attempt  upon  her  bosom.  When 
he  had  mentioned  the  first,  the  accused  began  to  re- 

#  Consisting  of  Deacons  Willess  and  Lyon, 
f  Excepting  Mrs.  Wintringham,  who  was  said  to  be  still 
too  much  indisposed  to  go  abroad. 


65 


ply,  but  Mc  Intosh  objected,  and  it  was  concluded  te> 
let  Bleecker  go  through  without  interruptiou — as  he 
proceeded,  the  accused  still  signified  that  the  charges 
were  not  true,  by  shaking  his  head.  When  Bleecker 
had  finished,  the  accused  began,  preparatory  to  a  di- 
rect denial  of  the  three  charges,  to  state  cirumstan- 
ces,  serving  to  show  the  great  improprieties  and  man- 
ifest falsehoods  of  Mrs.  Wintringham  ;  but  was  im- 
mediately stopped  by  Mc  In  tosh ;  who,  finding  that 
such  a  dis/losure  would  be  death  to  their  design,  ab- 
ruptly broke  out,  in  about  these  words,  <*  It  is  mean 
and  abominable  that  you  should  say  any  thing  that 
might  injure  the  reputation  of  the  woman  ;  for  any 
woman  might  form  an  undue  attachment  to  a  public 
character  of  your  address,  and  so  be  led  to  some  im- 
proprieties."* The  accused  being  much  out  of  health 
and  depressed  in  spirits,  by  reason  of  the  trouble  and 
anxiety  occasioned  by  the  Stewart  trial,  through 
which  he  had  just  passed,f  and  well  knowing  the  vio- 
lent temper  and  the  malicious  and  mischief-making 
disposition  of  his  accuser  also  her  ill  will  and  that 
of  her  counsellor,  Mc  Intosh,  against  the  people  of 
Gold  street,  was  willing  to  submit  almost  to  any 
thing,  rather  than  have  a  new  difficulty  in  the 
church:  therefore,  as  the  professed  object  of  the 
meeting  was  to  effect  a  reconciliation,  that  so  the 
church  might  not  be  troubled  with  the  matter,  he 
thought  it  expedient  to  omit  exhibiting  any  cfer* 

*  Although  not  suspected  at  the  time,  subsequent  cir- 
cumstances have  plainly  shown,  that  the  design  on  the  part 
of  Mc  Intosh,  at  least,  was  to  hammer  out  something  that 
might  be  construed  into  an  Assault  and  Battery. 

f  That  trial  was  on  Tuesday,  May  7th,  1811,  and  the 
meeting  at  Mc  Intosh's,  the  following  Friday. 

|  This  he  had  learned  by  her  treatment  of  Mr.  Brnc<\  tr> 
which  there  is  reference  had  in  the  printed  trial 


geS  against  her  :  and  the  rather  as  she  was  no  loh« 
ger  of  the  same  church  Avith  himself;  also  to  admit, 
by  silence,  some  things  contrary  to  his  own  con- 
science ?*  accordingly,  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  hon* 
estly  and  pointedly  denying  the  three  charges  and 
some  other  falsehoods,  and  so  prolonging  the  dispute, 
he  made  an  acknowledgement,  in  general  terms,  of 
what  he  considered  himself  to  blame  in,  and  which, 
through  grace,  he  was  enabled  deeply  to  feel ;  being 
very  sensible  of  his  sin,  in  having  indulged  in  light 
conversation  with  the  accuser  and  her  associate  Mrs. 
Brown — in  not  having  made  that  prompt  opposition 
which  he  ought,  to  Mrs.  Wintringham's  forward- 
ness, in  not  having  given  her  all  that  caution  and 
advice  which  it  was  his  duty  to  have  given  her,  and 
in  having  so  long  partaken  with  her  in  the  privileges 
of  the  church,  notwithstanding  her  unwarrantable  at- 
tentions.! Of  these  things,  and  with  much  sorrow, 
he  made  an  acknowledgment  to  the  church.:):  His 
inducements  to  such  forbearance  and  delinquency,  in, 
not  exposing  the  failings  of  a  woman  were,  a  sense  of 

*  If,  however,  he  had  known  their  design,  which  has  since 
come  to  light,  he  would  not  only  have  honestly  denied  what 
he  was  falsely  charged  with,  but  would  also  have  stated 
such  facts  respecting  the  accuser's  forwardness  as  would 
have  made  both  her  and  her  friends  ashamed  of  her  cause. 

|  "  Let  him  that  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone."  If 
even  christians,  (not  to  mention  false  professors,)  who  have 
been  engaged  against  the  accused,  would  take  a  review  of 
all  their  light  and  unguarded  expressions  and  actions,  they 
would  find  enough  to  do,  in  lamenting  and  correcting  their 
own  failings,  without  venting  their  acrimony  upon  an  af- 
flicted brother,  fallible  indeed,  yet  wickedly  persecuted. 

J  This  acknowledge ;roeni  like  other  things,  has  been  great- 
ly misrepresented.  Eieeckerhas  spoken  of  it  as  including 
the  f  r  ee  charges  of  Mrs.  Wintringham ;  but  the  whole 
church  know  that  they  were  distinctly  denied,  and  in 
Bleecker's  presence. 


67 


honor— an  unwillingness  to  injure  her  family,  and  a 
desire  to  prevent  trouble  in  the  church  ;  moreover  he 
long  believed  that  she  had  no  base  design  ;  but  might 
be  under  a  temptation  from  which  he  hoped  she  would 
be  relieved.* 

Mr.  Bleecker  then  gave  a  word  of  admonition, 
which  was  well  received.  All  present  appeared  to 
be  well  satisfied.  At  the  request  of  Mrs.  Brown, 
Mr.  Bleecker  went  to  prayer.  Strange  that  he  could 
not  recollect  that,  when  under  oath,  altho'  he  af- 
fected to  recollect  all  the  minutia  of  the  conversa^ 
tio#  (} 

*  That  the  accused  must  have  thought  very  differently  of 
her  past  forwardness,  when  he  found  her  taking  measures  to 
be  avenged  of  him  for  his  neglect  of  her,  may  easily  be  im- 
agined. 

f  To  this  representation  of  the  affair  at  Mc  Intosh's,  the 
accused  is  aware,  that  the  testimony  of  Bleecker  and  Mc  In- 
tosh  stands,  in  part,  opposed;  that  is,  with  resj>ect  to  the  alle- 
ged acknowledgment  of  Mrs.  Wintringham's  charges.  Let 
the  reader  then  consider  the  following  things. 

1.  Five  witnesses;  viz:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bedient,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Canton,  Mrs.  Isabella  Randolph,  Mr.  Samuel  F.  Ran- 
dolph, and  Mr.  William  Phillips,  all  agreed,  when  examined 
under  oath,  that  Bleecker  had  declared  to  them,  that  the 
accused,  at  Mc  Intosh's,  had  not  confessed  the  charges  of 
Mrs.  Wintringham,  but  merely  some  impropriety  in  conver- 
sation :  and  some  of  them  also  state,  that  Bleecker  proceed- 
ed to  say,  that,  on  the  acknowledgment  made  by  the  accu- 
sed, he  freely  forgave  him ;  adding,  "  and  so  would  all  the 
church  if  they  had  heard  him."  [Why  then  has  Bleecker, 
9ince,  so  much  abused  the  church  tor  doing  so ;  especially  as 
he  says  that  more  was  confessed  to  him  than  to  the  church  ?] 
Yet,  at  court,  he  swore  that  the  accused  had  confessed  the 
said  charges.    See  trial  p.  28,  47 — 50. 

2.Several  reasons  unite  to  induce  the  belief,  that  Bleecker, 
in  espousing  the  cause  of  Mrs.  Wintringham,  acted  from  a 
principle  of  self-defence,  not  being  willing  to  hazard  the 
consequences  of  provoking  her  resentment.  Acaong  the 
reasons  inducing  this  belief  are  the  following  : 

Q 


68 


On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  (Friday,)  the 
accused,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health  and  to  spend  a. 
Lord's  day  with  a  destitute  people,  went  to  Staten- 
Island.  On  the  next  day,  toward  evening,  he  received 
a  very  affectionate  letter  from  Leonard  Blecker, 
addressing  him,  "  Dear  and  afflicted  Brother,"  and 

%  According  to  his  own  testimony,  he  knew  all  the  char- 
ges of  Mrs.  Wintringham,  a  week  or  two  before  the  Stewart 
trial,  nevertheless  lie  persevered  with  unabated  zeal  in 
favour  of  the  accused.  Only  on  the  Saturday  before  the  Stew- 
art trial  occurred  on  Tuesday,  when  in  conversation  with 
Mr  Todd,  as  they  were  riding,  on  Long  Island,  to  prodUre 
a  necessary  witness,  he  spoke  of  the  accused  in  high  terms 
of  approbation,  as  that  he  was  not  only  a  christian  but  also 
very  studious,  and  that,  possessing  a  mind  capable  of  im- 
provement, he  bid  fair  to  become  a  great  man ;  notwithstand- 
ing all  that  had  been  said  about  him  :  likewise  on  Lord's 
day,  only  two  days  before  the  trial,  he  received  the  Lord's 
supper  from  the  accused. 

2.  At  and  after  the  meeting  at  Mc  Intosh's,  he  declared 
himself  satisfied- — also  he  continued  to  declare  himself  so. 
until  Mrs.  Wintringhani  and  her  husband,  had  resolved  to 
prosecute ;  then,  being  compelled  either  to  espouse  her  cause, 
or  meet  her  opposition,  he  preferred  the  former ;  and  having 
made  so  extraordinary  a  change,it  was  necessary ,the  better  to 
account  for  his  conduct,  that  he  should  affect  a  belief  that 
the  accused  was  guilty  of  the  charges  of  Mrs.  Stewart;  and, 
being  well  aware,  that  the  surest  way  to  prevent  any  future 
exposure  of  his  true  motives  and  of  the  cause  he  had  es- 
poused,  was  so  to  disgrace  the  accused  as  to  destroy  his  in- 
fluence, and,  if  possible,  to  drive  him  from  the  city,  he  wa» 
particularly  set  upon  effecting  that  object ;  hence  his  endea- 
vours to  prejudice  ministers,  and  members  of  churches, 
of  all  denominations  against  him;  hence  also  his  clamorous  re- 
hearsal of  all  the  stories  he  had  heard  to  surrounding  groupson 
the  streets,at  market-places,&c.  knowing  that  thepublic  opin- 
ion could  not  fail  to  have  its  weight  with  Lawyers,  Judges, 
and  even  Jurors.    Was  he  an  impartial  witness  ? 

Nor  is  it  any  less  evident  that  Mrs.  Wintringham  has  con- 
sidered him  as  being  in  her  power.  For 

3.  It  has  been  proved  that  she  said,  she  *.  could  wind  or 
turn  him  about  her  finger.." 


informing  him  that  Mrs.  Wintringham  had  represen- 
ted her  charges  to  her  husband,  and  that  he,  believ- 
ing her,  was  determined  on  a  prosecution,  unless 
the  accused  would  immediately  leave  the  city — that 
he  (Bleecker)  would  mention  the  matter  to  some  more 
of  the  friends  of  the  accused,  and  that*  after  consulta* 

4.  It  can  be  proved,  that,  after  the  meeting  at  Mc  Ir.tosh's 
Mrs.  W.  on  hearing  that  Bleecker  had  professed  to  be  re- 
conciled to  the  accused,  intimated  that  he  must  account  to 
her  for  his  conduct  in  that  matter :  she  expressed  herself  in 
about  these  words :  "  I  am  astonished — I  do  not  understand 
such  conduct — he  must  come  to  me,  and  make  acknowledge 
ments."  Do  not  such  expressions  imply  threats  ?  Do  they 
not  imply  that  she  considered  bint  in  her  power?  In  what 
i  way  and  to  what  degree  he  is  in  her  power,  remains  to  be 
known.  People  howerer  will  think  :  especially,  as  it  is 
known,  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  disgrace  site  is  under, 
in  the  esteem  both  of  the  friends  and  foes  of  the  accused,  he 
(Bleecker)  has  habitually  visited  at  her  house  since  the 
trial — even  lately  he  has  been  seen  going  in  there.  Is  it 
possible  that  he  would  do  so,  did  he  not  dread  the  consequen- 
ces of  provoking  her  displeasure  ?  or  even  a  cessation  of 
her  friendship  ?  Had  he,  like  the  accused,  on  discovering 
her  baseness,  absolutely  refused  to  go  any  more  to  her  Louse., 
it  is  not  improbable  that  she  would  have  treated  him  in  a  si- 
milar manner. 

3.  Although  Mc  Intosh,  possessing  more  cunning,  and 
observing  more  system,  arranged  a  story  and  abode  by  it ; 
yet  if,  in  the  common  acknowledgment  made  by  the  accused 
in  the  presence  of  the  two  men,  the  charges  of  Mrs.  Win- 
tringham were  not  confessed  to  Bleecker,  who  stated  them 
and  who  was  present  during  every  moment  of  the  meeting, 
how  could  they  have  been  confessed  to  Mc  Intosh  ?  But 
that  they  were  not  confessed  to  Bleecker,  he  himself  has 
repeatedly  asserted,  as  appears  from  the  united  testimony 
-of  five  witnesses.  And  altho'  at  court,  Bleecker,  in  the 
main,  agreed  with  Mc  Intosh,  yet  the  circumstances  above 
mentioned,  afford,  at  least  a  strong  presumption  that  he 
was  driven  to  it,  by  apprehensions  from  Mrs.  W.  Previous 
consultations  also  may  have  greatly  contributed  to  agreement 
in  testimony. 

However,  as  a  few  have  placed  considerable  reliance,  on 
the  opinion  and  testimony  of  Mr,  Bleecker,  it  i«  necessary 


70 


lion  had,  they  would  give  him  their  advice.  On  the 
succeeding  Monday  morning,  the  accused,overwhelm- 
ed  in  grief  and  perplexity,  wrote  to  Bleecker  the  con- 
fidential answer  which  he  had  not  only  the  meanness 
to  expose,  but  also  the  baseness  to  pervert ; — Yes  he 
had  the  baseness  to  pervert  the  meaning  of  it ;  for 
he  must  have  known  and  must  now  know,  in  his  con- 
science, that  the  accused  had  no  allusion  in  his  letter 

the  public  should  know  that  he  has  asserted  the  following 
monstrous  and  notorious  falsehood,  viz :  that  for  charges, 
similar  to  those  lately  reported,  the  accused  was  compelled 
to  leave  Maryland — that  he  had  been  living  in  adultery  for 
ten  years,  and  that,  in  Baltimore,  he  had  indulged  in  that 
vice  with  any  common  woman  of  the  street.  That  Leon- 
ard Bleecker  has,  in  substance,  asserted  the  above  can  be 
supported  by  respectable  testimony.  Let  the  acquaintances 
of  the  accused  in  Maryland  and  Virginia  decide  :  and  let 
them  and  others  consider  whether  a  man  who  can  talk  in 
that  way,  to  destroy  a  public  character,  ought  to  be  believ- 
ed. Yet "  Leonard  Bleecker,"  said  Mr.  Collier,  "  will  be 
believed  to  the  Eastward,  before  all  the  church,"  meaning 
the  First  Baptist  church  in  NewYork.  (See  Appendix.)  So 
far  from  being  compelled  to  leave  Maryland,  the  accused 
with  much  difficulty,  obtained  the  consent  of  the  church  of 
which  he  was  pastor  to  let  him  come,  tho'  calculating  then 
to  tarry  in  New-York,  only  a  few  months;  moreover,  being 
a  fourth  time  elected  chaplain  to  Congress,  he  declined  ser- 
ving, and  sent  in  his  letter  of  resignation  but  a  few  days  be- 
fore he  left  Maryland.  See  Journals  of  Congress,  for  1801, 
2,  3,  4. 

But,  if  Mr.  Bleecker  be  such  an  unblemished  character 
as  some  have  boasted,  why  has  he  not,  after  so  many  months 
trial,  obtained  admission  into  Fayette  street  church?  Many 
leading  members  of  that  church  have,  indeed,  manifested 
great  anxiety  for  his  admission  ;  but  the  reason  is  evident; 
they  had  greatly  trumpeted  his  fame  as  one  opposed  to  Par- 
kinson and  the  First  Church;  but  should  their  church  refuse 
to  receive  him,  on  account  of  his  being  excluded  from  the 
First  Church,  it  would  be,  in  eftect,  a  declaration  that  they 
have  not  confidence  in  him  themselves,  which  must  destroy 
his  influence  in  the  persecution.  It  is  understood  to  be  sure, 
that,  when  the  question  on  receiving  him  was  taken  a  ma- 


7,1 


to  the  charges  of  Mrs.  "Wintringham,  as  true,  but  to 
those  things  iu  which,  he  had  acknowledged  himself 
to  blame,  [see  p.  66.]  and  to  the  three  charges  as  be- 
ing of  such  a  nature,  as  to  furnish  ground  for  a 
prosecution,  tho'  false  ;  and  that  so,  whether,  in 
the  event,  he  should  stand  or  fall,  he  must  agairr 
pass  the  fiery  ordeal  of  a  judicial  process  and  the 
unwelcome  gaze  of  an  anxious  multitude — moreover, 
he  was  particularly  afflicted  with  the  consideration 
of  additional  trouble  and  disgrace,  likely  to  be  oc- 
casioned in  the  church,  which  lay  much  upon  hifr 
heart — Now,  conscious  that  God  had,  in  some  mea- 
sure, qualified  him  for  the  gospel  ministry,  also  that 
he  had  called  him  to  it  and  owned  him  in  it,  he  felt 
it  to  be  his  indispensable  duty  to  persevere,  to  the 
end  of  life,  in  preaching  that  precious  Jesus  who  was, 
even  then,  precious  to  his  soul  ;  but  supposing  it  not 
improbable,  as  mentioned  p.  38.  that  these  trials 
were  designed  iii  holy  providence  to  remove  him  to 
labour  in  some  other  place — sensible  that,  in  order 
to  acceptance  with  christian  churches,  and  even  to 
gain  the  audience  of  the  world,  it  was  necessary  he 
should  have  a  good  recommendation  from  the  church 
he  had  been  with  ;  and  not  knowing  what  prejudices 
against  him,  the  charges  of  Mrs.  Wintringham  might 
have  produced  ;  hence,  supposing  Mr.  Bleecker  to  be 
his  real  friend,  and  knowing  him  to  be  the  only  mem- 
ber who  was  well  enough  acquainted  with  the  cir- 
cumstances, to  make  a  just  representation  of  them 

jority  were  in  favour  of  the  motion ;  nevertheless,  as  many 
were  dissatisfied,and  likely  to  leave  the  church,  it  was  judged 
inexpedient  to  receive  him  ;  but  it  is  also  understood  that  a 
copy  of  the  resolution  has  been  put  into  his  hands.  Was 
not  this  to  preserve,  in  the  best  manner  possible,  his  sink- 
ing reputation,  and  so  his  influence  against  the  First  Church 
and  their  pastor  ?  Possibly  the  above  considerations  ma* 
yet  effect  his  union  with  that  church 


72 


to  the  church,  he  wrote  to  him  the  said  letter,  ita 
which  he  most  affectionately  and  fervently  intreat- 
ed  him  to  use  his  interest  with  the  church,  to  procure 
for  him  (if  needed)  such  a  letter  of  dismission  as 
would  answer  the  necessary  purposes. 

As  to  the  "  Pillow  Scene,"  (as  it  has  been  called,) 
no  one  who  candidly  considers  the  circumstances,  can 
possibly  impute  to  the  accused,  any  evidence  of  ill 
design.  He  called  at  the  house,  in  consequence  of  a 
general  and  pressing  invitation,  given  him  both  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wintringham,  to  stop  there  whenever 
he  could,  after  meetings,  to  take  some  refreshment ; 
his  family  being  then  out  of  the  city  :  having  called, 
Mrs.  W.  urged  him  to  tarry  until  a  cup  of  chocolate 
could  be  prepared :  he,  being  much  indisposed  and 
considerably  exhausted  by  the  labours  of  the  day> 
asked  leave,  in  the  mean  time,  to  retire  and  lie  down.: 
whereupon,  Mrs  W.  herself  proposed,  intreated  him 
to  accept,  and  then  rendered  thai  means  of  rest  which 
is  in  question  :  also  Mrs.  Canton  sat  by  all  the  time. 
Nevertheless,  in  that,  as  in  other  things,  he  is  con- 
scious that  he  acted  imprudently,and  without  due  con- 
sideration :  and  seeing  that  such  things,  however 
innocently  done,  may  be  made  the  occasion  of  so 
much  disturbance  among  professors,  and  of  so  much 
reproach  to  religion,  he  is  sensible  that  it  is  his  duty 
in  future,  to  avoid  them ;  moreover,  he  takes  this 
opportunity,  solemnly  to  caution  all  other  profes- 
sors of  religion  to  avoid  them,  as  they  regard  the 
declarative  glory  of  their  Lord  and  Master  in  the 
world. 

At  Mrs.  Wintringham's  contradiction  of  Mrs* 
Canton's  testimony,  in  relation  to  this  and  all  other 
matters,  in  which  she  did  so ;  as  also  her  contradic 


73 

tion  of  the  testimony  of  other  witnesses,  the  accused 
will  only  say,  he  was  perfectly  astonished. 

Elder  John  Peak,  for  carrying  with  him,  from 
New-York  to  Newbury-Port,  and  exhibiting  among 
the  people  where  he  preached,  the  ridiculous  Cari- 
cature of  the  above  mentioned  scene,  is  left  to  reap 
hi9  reward,  in  the  remorse  of  his  own  conscience  and 
the  disapprobation  of  all  christians, 

All  that  remains  in  relation  to  the  printed  trial,  is 
to  notice  the  insinuation  in  the  Hypocrite  Unmasked, 
(p.  12.)  that  the  jury  were  guilty,  if  not  of  perjury, 
yet  of  dishonesty.  Strange  indeed  !  W  hen  the  jury 
were  empannelling,  the  counsel,  on  the  part  of  the 
prosecution,  objected  to  one  and  another  until  they 
had  a  pannei  of  which  they  approved.  The  counsel 
on  the  part  of  the  defendant  objected  to  no  one,  being 
willing  the  matter  should  be  decided  by  any  12  men 
who  were  honest  and  of  common  discernment. 
The  accused  well  remembers,  that,  during  the  trials 
he  could  not  recollect  ever  to  have  seen  the  face  of  any 
one  of  the  jurors  before:  since,  however,  upon  in- 
quiry, he  has  learned  that  they  are  not  only  respecta- 
ble citizens,  but  also  men  of  superior  judgement, 
and  of  considerable  experience  and  known  integrity. 
Could  they  have  had  any  prepossession  in  favour  of 
the  accused  ?  Can  it  be  supposed  that  they  would 
have  violated  their  consciences  to  acquit  him 

*  The  words  of  the  pamphlet  are  these  : — "  The  verdict 
of  acquittal  from  the  charge  as  laid  in  the  indictment,  by 
no  means  implies  a  belief  in  the  jury,  of  the  defendant's  inno- 
cence in  point  of  fact."  What  then  does  it  imply  ?  Does 
the  writer  mean  to  suggest  that  it  implies  in  the  jury,  a  be- 
lief that,  in  point  of  fact,  the  accused  was  guilty  ?  Then, 
as  they  acquitted  him,  they  must  have  believed  that  he  had 
in  fact,  taken  all  the  liberties  complained  of  with  Mrs.  Win- 
tringham's  bosom,  and  had  been  constantly,  making  pro- 
fessions of  love  to  her,  for  two  or  three  years  with  Iter  own 


T4 

Now,  having  considered  every  thing  recollected  t& 
have  heen  rumoured  against  him,  the  accused  pro- 
ceeds to  conclude  his  remarks. 

Remember,  reader,  that  none  of  the  material 
facts  stated,  depend  on  the  word  of  the  accused,  but 
are  all  supported  by  other  authorities ;  and  altho'  a 
few  things,  of  secondary  importance,  are  stated  with- 
out such  support,  yet  they  are  matters,  to  which  cor- 
roborating  circumstances,  give  the  highest  probabili- 
ty of truth. 

When  you  have  considered  the  facts  stated,  and 
the  authorities  by  which  they  are  severally  supported, 
ask  yourself,  reader,  whether  you  are  justifiable  in 
crediting  the  reports  concerning  the  accused ;  and 
think  if  such  self-contradictory  stories,  and  from 
such  suspicious  characters,  are  to  be  credited,  and 
such  testimony  to  the  contrary  is  to  be  rejected,  what 
may,  one  day,  be  your  own  condition  and  that  of 
others  equally  innocent ;  being  liable  to  similar  ac- 
cusations. 

But  even  supposing,  for  a  moment,  all  the  allega- 
tions against  the  accused  to  be  true,  is  it  not  at  least 
evident,  that  the  church  had  sufficient  reasons  for  not 
believing  them  to  be  true,  and  so  for  retaining  their 
pastor  ? 

That  the  charges  against  him  are  false,  the  accu- 
sed might,  like  his  accusers,  make  great  protestations 
and  numerous  appeals  to  heaven ;  but,  persuaded 
that  many  as  well  as  himseif,  have  often  proved  per- 
sons, who  are  in  the  habit  of  making  such  appeals, 

full  consent  and  approbation.  But  if  so,  however  great  the 
defendant's  guilt,  what  does  that  write*  make  of  his  "  inno- 
cent female"  as  he  calls  her  ?  And  is  it  not  astonishing 
above  measure,  that  both  she  and  her  husband  have  been 
employed  in  distributing  the  said  pamphlet ! !  What  remains 
to  complete  their  folly  ? 


75 

to  have  uttered  falsehood  while  they  have  done  so  ; 
and  supposing  that  they  would  judge  of  him  as  he 
does  of  others,   he  has  carefully  avoided  all  such 
appeals,  lest  he  should  be   suspected  of  lying  too. 
And  indeed,  conscious  that  he  has  never  in  his 
life  descended  to  meanness,  and  that  he  has  never 
given  any  person  reason  to  doubt  his  word,  he  is 
sensible  that,  as  a  man,  as  a  professor  of  religion 
and  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he  deserves  to  be 
believed.    And,  however  he  may  appear  disgraced, 
in  the  view  of  some,  by  the  reports  tbat  have  gone 
abroad  concerning  him,  he  now  declares  that  he  con- 
siders both  himself  and  the  church  he  serves,  to 
be  much  more  disgraced,  in  the  view  of  (he  intelli- 
gent and  christian  part  of  the  community,  by  the 
lamentable  fact,  that  such  persons  as  many  who  have 
been  engaged  against  them,  have  ever  borne — espe- 
cially that  some  of  them  still  bear,  with  them,  the 
honourable  distinction  of  Baptists  in  the  professing 
world. 

This  Narrative  and  the  remarks  accompanying  it, 
are  laid  before  the  public,  not  because  the  accused 
expects,  thereby  immediately,  to  silence  all  i;ain- 
sayers,  or  to  satisfy  even  all  christians  ;  for  he  is 
well  aware  that  the  malice  of  the  former  w  ill  prompt 
them  to  proceed  still  further,  and  that  the  received 
prejudices  of  the  latter  will,  in  some  instances,  for  a 
time  at  least,  remain.  But  because,  in  his  conscien- 
tious opinion, 

1.  The  declarative  glory  of  his  Lord  and  Master 
demands  it. 

2.  It  is  a  duty  he  owes  to  all  gospel  ministers  they 
having,  in   some  measure,  shared  in  the  reproac  h 
brought  upon  their  sacred  office,  by  the  wicked  mis 
representations  concerning  one  of  their  number. 


76 

So  The  society  of  christians  to  which  he  belongs 
-and  the  church  in  particular  of  which  he  is  pastor* 
had  a  right  to  expect  it.  And 

44  A  true  and  faithful  record  of  facts  relating  to 
inch  an  extraordinary  instance  of  persecution,  ought 
to  be  transmitted  to  posterity. 

His  principal  reasons  for  not  making  some  repre- 
sentation to  the  public  sooner,  are  given,  p.  2%  ;  to 
whreh  may  be  added  his  desire  that  the  gust  of  pas- 
aion,  on  both  sides,  might  have  passed  over,  and  so  his 
statement  receive  from  both  parties,  a  more  candid 
consideration.*  For  these  reasons  he  has  borne,  in  si- 
lence, not  only  the  neglect  of  many  whom  he  respects* 
but  also  the  derision  of  poor  insignificant  ttystarts? 
whom,  yea,  "  whose  fathers"  (to  use  the  language  of 
Job,  on  a  similar  occasion)  he  "  would  have  disdained 
to  have  set  with  the  dogs  of  his  flock."    Job,  SO.  l.f 

*  It  was  designed,  indeed,  that  this  representation  should 
have  appeared  a  few  weeks  earlier  than  it  does;  but  for 
which  delay,  it  is  thought  a  sufficient  apology  to  observe, 
that,  as  the  accused  preaches,  statedly,  six  times  a  week  to 
the  same  people,  besides  preaching  occasional  sermons  and 
attending  to  other  ministerial  duties,  he  can,  of  course,  have 
|mt  little  leisure  for  writing. 

f  The  accused  has  never  thought  hard  of  any  one  for  neg- 
lecting him  and  thereby  showing  a  non-fellowship,  provided 
such  person  avowed  a  belief  of  the  reports  concerning  him  ; 
for  certainty  no  christian,  believing  these  reports,  could  have 
acted  otherwise  :  yet,  even  under  that  belief,  it  would  have 
become  a  christian  to  show  concern,  and  not  triumph,  aa 
some  professors  have  done.  Neither  does  he  blame  any 
who  have  suspended  their  judgment,  until  they  could  ob- 
tain j^irther  satisfaction.  And,  sensible  that,  if  any  man 
whom  he  might  believe  to  be  guilty  of  3uch  crimes  as  have 
been  imputed  to  himself,  should  write  to  him  or  even  speak 
to  him,  unless  in  a  way  of  confession,  he  should  esteem  it 
an  insult,  he  has  declined  all  communications  to  his  former 
correspondents,  excepting  these  who,  by  letter  or  otherwise, 
have  let  him  know  that  they  do  not  believe  him  to  be  guilty, 
"it  retain  him  in  full  fellowship;  nor  does  he  even  speak  to 


r? 


In  his  dry  narrative,  the  accused  regrets  nothings^ 
much  as  the  indispensible  exposure  of  the  failings  of 
so  many  of  his  poor  fellow  creatures ;  to  do  which, 
when,  consistenly  with  duty,  it  can  be  avoided,  he 
deems  the  most  dishonorable  and  detestable  act  of 
which  any  human  being  can  he  guilty.    But  of  the 
persons  alluded  to,  some  (the  baser  sort,)  having  fab- 
ricated, and  others  (the  more  respectable,)  having 
sanctioned  and  circulated  false  reports,  to  the  preju- 
dice not  only  of  the  accused,  but  also  of  the  nume- 
rous church  and  congregation  to  which  he  ministers, 
be  felt  himself  to  be  under  the  imperious  necessity 
of  doing  what  he  so  much  abhors ;  there  being  no 
other  means  of  preventing  an  imposition,  both  upon 
the  present  and  future  generations,  through  their 
falsehoods,  but  to  make  a  statement  of  facts,  which 
must  show,  to  every  unprejudiced  mind,  that  the  in- 
ventors of  the  said  reports  are  not  deserving  of  cred- 
it, and  that  their  supporters  have  taken  such  men 
snres  as  show  that  they  acted  from  unworthy  motives* 
or,  at  least,  without  due  considerat  ion  ;  and  therefore, 
that  their  decisions  ought  not  to  be  respected.  And 
it  must  be  obvious  to  all,  that  suc'h  a  statement  could 
be  made,  only  during  the  life  of  the  accused  and  that 
of  others  who  were  witnesses  of  the  facts  stated. 

If  any  intelligent  and  unpre  judiced  reader  should 
feel  his  good  understanding  to  be  insulted,  by  the  re- 
alty professor  of  any  denomination,  excepting,  occasionally 
giving  the  time  of  day.,  unless  the  person  firgt  speaks  to  him* 
or  has  by  some  means  assured  him  of  remaining  fellowship 
Nor  has  he,  in  any  instance,  suffered  his  name  to  s;o  abroad 
but  by  special  request.  Had  he,  like  some,  and  even  like 
certain  individuals  who  have  themselves,  been  under  worse 
imputations  than  the  accused,  written  abroad  for  accounts 
of  revivals,  &c. — he  might,  perhaps,  hare  obtained  the  in- 
sertion of  his  name  in  some  periodical  publications;  as  well 
•fes  they.    But  such  fishing  for  f.ime  iie  abhors 


7  5 


marks  with  which  the  narrative  is  interspersed,  that 
deader  is  requested  to  recollect,  that  those  remarks 
were  not  intended  for  him ; — his  mind,  it  is  well 
known,  would  suggest  the  same  remarks,  and,  per- 
haps, more  pertinent  ones  ;  but  for  readers  w  ho,  ei- 
ther for  want  of  discernment,  or  by  reason  of  precon- 
ceived prejudices,  would  pass  over  a  mere  narrative 
of  facts,  w  ithout  observing  what  they  prove  or  imply. 

If  the  terms  used  in  any  of  the  remarks  are  too  se- 
vere, the  writer  must,  in  those  instances,  have  de- 
parted from  a  rule,  which  he  intended  carefully  to 
observe  :  but  if  any  one  should  think  them  so,  he  is 
desired  to  turn  to  Mat  t.  12,  3*  and  23,  33  :  John  8, 
55,  and  Acts  13.  8 — 10,  and  he  will,  probably,  be 
convinced,  that  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  those 
employed,  even  by  him  who  taught  his  disciples  not 
to  revile,  nor  w  ith  those  used  by  the  great  Apostle  of 
the  gentiles,  even  when  "  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghost." 

Duty  to  God  and  his  cause,  having  required  the 
statement  of  facts  now  given,  the  writer  is  neither 
ashamed  of  its  appearance,  nor  afraid  of  its  effects  y 
and  therefore,  though  long  since  brought,  through 
grace,  to  hate  sin  and  love  holiness — to  abandon  the 
world  and  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  persecuted  fol- 
lowers and  ministers  of  Christ ;  yet,  from  a  sense  of 
his  indwelling  corruptions  and  daily  imperfections., 
he  hesitates  not  to  subscribe  himself,  as  usual, 
"  The  chief  of  sinners," 

WM.  PARKINSON. 


APPENDIX 


Not  ice  having  been  taken  in  the  Narrative, 
[Note  on  p.  70.]  that  Leonard  Bleeeker,  had  slander- 
ously represented  the  accused  to  have  been  driven 
from  his  native  state,  on  account  of  bad  conduct,  it  i? 
thought  proper  to  add  that  Archibald  Maclay,  and 
even  Elder  John  Williams,  are,  by  no  means,  inno 
cent  in  that  matter,  as  will  appear  from  what  follows. 
During  the  rumours  and  difficulties  in  1811,  deacon 
John  Bedient,  hearing  that  something  of  the  kind 
had  been  said,  and  being  desirous  to  ascertain  what  it 
was  and  upon  what  authority  it  was  propagated, 
sought  and  had  an  interview  with  Messrs.  Williams 
and  Maelay,  on  the  subject.    Addressing  himself  to 
Maclay,  he  observed  that  he  understood,  that  he 
[Maclay]  had  received  some  information  against  Mr. 
Parkinson,  from  the  southward,  and  would  thank  him 
to  say  whether  he  had,  and  if  so,  how  it  came  :  Mac- 
lay  declined  giving  any  positive  answer,  but  referred 
the  matter  to  Mr.  Williams  ;  who,  in  effect,  admitted 
the  fact,  but  also  refused  to  tell  what  it  was,  or  how  if 
had  been  communicated ;  which  left  Mr.  Bedient  un- 
der the  full  conviction,  that  they  were  willing  the 
impression  that  they  did,  indeed,  possess  such  infor 
mation,  should  prevail,  in  all  its  force,  against  the 
accused ;  though,  being  themselves  convinced  that  it 
was  unfounded,  they  would  not  hazard  the  eon»e 
quences  of  telling  their  stories  and  naming  their  an. 
thorities. 


80 


APPENDIX. 


If  the  inference  drawn  from  the  above  interview? 
an  inference  so  unfavourable  to  the  candour  of  Mr. 
Williams,  be  thought  uncharitable,  let  the  following 
facts  be  considered — facts  by  which  the  said  inference 
is  abundantly  supported,  and  justified.  During  the 
summer  of  1812,  Elder  Edmund  J.  Reis  came  to  this 
city* — while  here,  as  he  first  fell  in  with  the  oppo- 
sitionists of  the  First  Churh  and  their  pastor,  his 
ears  and  his  mind  were  so  filled  with  their  eommu- 
aieations,  that,  as  might  reasonably  have  been  ex- 
pected, he  remained  among  them  during  his  contin- 
uance in  the  place.f    From  this,  he  went,  by  way  of 

*  Mr.  R.  is  well  known,  in  New-York,  by  the  distinc- 
tion of  "  The  French  preacher/' 

t  In  a  similar  manner,  many  other  ministers,  who  came 
to  the  city,  at  about  that  time,  were  imposed  on;  some  by 
communications  received  before  they  came,  and  others  by 
opportunities  taken,  by  certain  persons,  to  converse  with 
them  as  soon  a3  they  arrived;  by  which  means,  they  had 
such  representations  made  to  them  concerning  the  accused, 
as  could  not  fail  of  exciting  in  them  suspicions,  at  least, 
concerning;  him:  if,  notwithstanding,  they  were  inclined  to 
suspend  their  opinion,  and  to  preach  for  the  church  he  serv  es, 
as  for  other  churches  in  the  place,  they  were  told,  that,  if 
they  should  preach  for  that  church,  they  could  not  be  allow- 
ed to  preach  for  the  other  churches:  hereupon,  some  refused 
to  preach  in  the  city  at  all;  and  others,  having  come  to  make 
collections,  being  informed  that  if  they  should  preach  for 
the  First  Church,  they  might  expect  no  aid  from  the  other 
churches,  and  that  more  was  to  be  expected  from  the  bounty 
of  the  other  churches  united,  than  from  that  of  the  First 
Church  alone,  yielded  to  the  lure  of  money.    Alas!  but 
see  1  Tim.  6.  10.    Those  who  acted  in  this  way,  are  consi- 
dered culpable  in  proportion  to  their  previous  acquaintance 
with  the  church  which  had  investigated  the  charges  against 
the  accused,  and  had  declared  them  to  be  unfounded ;  con- 
sequently the  least  allowance  can,  justly,  be  made  for  Mr. 
Collier  ;  who,  having:  been  the  pastor  of  the  said  church,  had 
witnessed  their  knowledge  and  faithfulness  in  matters  of  dis- 
cipline; yet  even  he  should  not  be  exposed,  had  not  his  pre~ 
tended frunds  boasted  of  his  opposition  to  the  First  Church 


APPENDIX. 


Baltimore,  on  a  mission  to  the  western  country, 
While  in  Baltimore,  he  called  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Peter  Levering.  Mrs.  L.  a  member  of  the  first  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Baltimore,  inquired  of  him  respecting 
the  health  of  the  accused, — the  state  of  his  church 

and  their  pastor,  as  affording  great  evidence  against  them — 
They  are  called  his  pretended  friends  because  it  is  well 
known,  that,  previous  to  this  occasion  for  making  a  tool  of 
him,  they  had  ever  spoken  of  him,  as  a  preacher,  in  terms 
of  contempt,  and  represented  him  as  not  worth  hearing. 
Now,  however,  they  say  "  The  conduct  of  so  good  a  man 
as  Mr.  Collier,  and  of  one  so  long  acquainted  with  the  First 
Church,  is  sufficient  to  convince  any  reflecting  person,  that 
the  accused  must  be  guilty  of  the  crimes  laid  to  his  charge^ 
and  that  the  church  have  covered  them  ;"  in  justiee,  there- 
fore, to  himself  and  the  church,  the  accused  i3  under  the 
disagreeable  necessity  of  laying  before  the  public  the  fol- 
lowing instances  of  Mr.  Collier's  inconsistency. 

On  his  arrival  in  N.York  he  took  lodgings,it  is  understood, 
with  Mr.  Nathaniel  Smith,  [Broadway.]  Mr.  Smith  and  his 
wife,  also  Nathaniel  Davis,  living  with  them,  had  lately  taken 
dismissions  from  this  church,  on  account  of  the  rumours  a- 
gaiust  its  pastor.  There,  he  was  abundantly  visited  by  the 
enemies  of  this  church ;  and,  as  hath  been  gathered  from 
a  person  then  staying  at  Mr.  Smith's,  Mr.  Collier,  while 
there,  was  receiving  an  almost  incessant  current  of  com* 
munication  against  the  accused  and  the  First  Church.  Not- 
withstanding, on  a  visit  at  Mrs.  Todd's  [Gold  street] 
he  affected  not  to  have  heard,  and  to  have  determin- 
ed not  to  hear,  any  thing  relating  to  the  existing  troubles 
from  either  side :  his  determination  was  commended  and 
no  communication,  on  the  subject,  offered.  He  declared,  that, 
from  a  iong  acquaintance  with  the  First  Church  he  had  fuli 
confidence  in  them.  Accompanied  by  deacon  Redient,  he 
called  on  the  accused,  addressed  him  as  a  brother,  and,  af- 
ter some  friendly  conversation,  on  being  invited,  he  agreed 
to  preach  for  him.  Nevertheless,  after  further  intercourse 
with  the  enemies  of  this  church,  he  professed  to  have 
doubts,  and  requested  an  interview  with  some  of  the  dea- 
cons, particularly  his  old  and  tried  friends  Messrs.  Bedienf 
and  Duffie.  The  interview  was  had ;  but,  strange  to  relate! 
he  refusedtobelie  ve  them  concerning  matters  of  fact  which  the  v 
stated  to  him,  and  would  not  even  give  them  a  patient  hear- 
ing— yea,  added  the  insult  of  saying,  "  Mr.  Leonard  Bieeck- 


32 


APPENDIX, 


and  whether  he  had  preached  for  hiin :  he  replied 
that  he  had  not  preached  for  him — that  he  had  not 
been  invited— also  that  he  had  not  been  introduced  to 
him,  and  only  to  two  or  three  of  his  church.  «  I  fear, 
continued  Mrs.  L.  that  you  got  among  his  enemies 
and  suffered  your  mind  to  be  prejudiced  against  him." 

er  will  be  believed  to  the  eastward,  before  the  whole  churchy- 
meaning  the  church  under  consideration.  He  moreover 
said,  "  If  Mr.  Bleecker  or  others,  who  are  opposed  to  the 
church  have  done  Avrong,  you  ought  to  publish  them  to 
the  world;  the  public  will  not  be  satisfied,  nor  believe  you 
unless  you  do."  Surely,  then,  Mr.  Collier  can  have  no  rea- 
son to  complain  of  this  publication  respecting  himself. 

Of  the  judgment  and  stability  of  Mr.  Collier,  the  read- 
er is  left  to  form  his  own  opinion,  from  the  following  conver- 
sation had  with  a  gentleman  in  this  city,  who  is  a  worthy 
friend,  both  of  Mr.  Collier  and  the  Gold  street  church,  and 
which  conversation,  at  particular  request,  he  presented  in 
writing.  "  I  am  requested,"  saith  he,  "  to  give  a  statement 
in  writing  of  the  conversation  I  had  with  Rev.  Wm.  Collier 
during  his  last  visit  to  New-York.  To  expose  what  has 
been  communicated  to  one  by  a  friend  in  confidence,  is,  I 
think,  a  violation  of  social  virtue,  and  leads  to  one  of 
the  greatest  mischiefs  that  can  happen  to  society.  But 
being  fully  convinced,  that  what  Mr.  Collier  communicated 
t*>  me  was  not  in  confidence,  (he  having  communicated  the 
same  to  others,)  I  do  not  hesitate  to  state  candidly,  the 
substance  of  several  of  the  leading  features  of  our  conver- 
sation, had  at  two  several  times. 

'4  Mr.  Collier  told  me,  that,  previous  to  his  leaving  hip 
family,  he  agreed  with  Mrs.  Collier,  that  the  best  method 
he  could  pursue,  on  arriving  at  N.  York,  would  be  to  take 
side  with  neither  of  the  contending  parties,  but  to  visit  both 
and  preach  to  both,  as  Divine  Providence  might  present  oc- 
casion. V/ith  this  determination  he  left  his  family.  On  ar- 
riving at  Hartford  [Conn.]  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Robins, 
highly  and  religiously  commended  his  determination  ancs 
confirmed  him  in  it.  He  arrived  at  New-York,  and,  accor- 
ding to  his  predetermination,  commenced  visiting  all  his 
former  friends,  and  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  all  subjects  of  con^ 
troversy.  He  said  that  the  people  of  Gold  st.  commended 
him  for  his  wise  determination,  and  said  to  him,  We  are 
glad  to  see  you:  we  intreat  you  to  preach  for  us  and  for 


APPENDIX 


3§ 


4*  It  is  true/'  said  he,  "  I  heard  much  against  Mr.  P. 
while  in  N.York  |  nevertheless, I  would  have  preached 
for  him  had  I  been  invited — "but,"added  he,"  Mrc 
P.mustbe  a  very  bad  man,from  his  own  confession  to 
Mr.  Williams  ;  or  else  Mr.  Williams  must  have  told 
me  a  great  falsehood." — Some  time  after,  Mr.Wm.W. 
Todd,  of  this  city,  being  in  Baltimore,  and  at  Mr. 
Leverings,  Mrs.  L.  related  to  him  the  above  conver- 

those  who  oppose  us;  visit  us  and  them,  and  as  you  came, 
so  depart,  ignorant  of  all  our  difficulties,    he  said  he  then 
felt  more  confirmed  and  happy  in  his  determination,  and  a» 
greed  with  Mr.  Parkinson  to  preach  in  his  pulpit  on  the  suc- 
ceeding Sabbath.    But  that,  on  visiting  those  who  were  dis* 
affected  to  Gold  street  church,  they  told  him  that  they  felt 
a  non-fellowship  with  Mr.  Parkinson  and  his  church,  and 
that  they  should  soon  make  their  non-fellowship  public  5 
that  if  he  [Mr.  Collier]  preached  for  Gold  street,  they 
should  not  feel  freedom  to  permit  him  to  preach  for  themj 
and,  therefore,  that  he  must  take  part,  for  or  against.  He  said 
that  all  his  former  determinations  were  then  shaken — that  he 
yielded  to  the  last  representation  and  invitation,  and  in« 
formed  Mr.  Parkinson  that  he  did  not  feel  a  freedom  to 
preach  in  his  pulpit  according  to  appointment    I  replied 
that,  in  my  opinion,  he  had  one  of  the  best  of  wives,  a  woman 
capable  of  giving  him  good  advice-— that  her  father  was  a 
wise  man  and  a  peace  maker,  and,  had  he  followed  his  first 
determination,  confirmed  by  their  advice  and  that  of  his 
Gold  street  friends,  he  would  have  completely  triumphed 
over  party  spirit,  which,  at  best,  serves  only  to  distress,  and 
would  have  honoured  his  divine  mission.  Preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature:  that  this  conduct  would,  ultimately,  have  gain- 
ed the  esteem  of  all*    I  added,  that  there  was  then  a  report 
in  circulation,  that,  after  his  appointment  to  preach  for  Gold 
at.  church,  he  had  dined  at  a  certain  house  with  a  number 
of  the  opponents  of  the  said  church,   several  of  whom  I 
named, — that  at  that  meeting  he  had  agreed  to  accept  of  a 
sum  of  money  about  100  dols.  and  to  counteract   his  ap- 
pointment to  preach  for  Gold  st.  church.   I  ended  by  obser» 
ving  that  report  said,  by  way  of  comment,  that  he  had  been 
purchased  for  100  dols.  To  all  this  he  made  no  direct  reply; 
but  did  me  the  honour  to  observe,  that  he  wished  he  had 
seen  me  previous  to  his  counteracting  his  appointment  to 
preach  for  Gold  street  church. 

8 


APPENDIX 


sation  had  with  Mr.  Reis.  He  observed  to  her,  that 
perhaps  Mr.  Reis  had  spoken  of  what  some  of  Mr. 
Williams'  church  had  said — or  of  what  Mr.  Williams 
might  have  said,  Mr  P.  was  represented  to  have  con- 
fessed to  others :  but  she  replied  that  she  had  been 
very  particular  and  could  not  have  mistaken  him. 
Mr.  Todd,  after  his  return  to  New- York,  took  with 
him  Mr.  Thomas  Cottrel,  a  member  of  the  First 
Church — called  on  Mr.  Williams — told  him  what  he 
had  heard  in  Baltimore,  and  desired  him  to  say  whe- 
ther he  had  told  Mr.  Reis,  that  Mr.  P.  had,  to  him, 
made  any  confession  of  crimes:  to  which  Mr.  Wil- 
liams replied,  "  I  will  answer  you  short,  and  I  hope 
satisfactorily — I  did  not  tell  Mr.  Reis  that  Mr.  P.  had 
made  any  confession  to  nie.''  "But  did  you  not,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Todd,  «  in  the  course  of  conversation  with 
Mr.  Reis,  say  what  might  have  led  him  to  form  that 
conclusion  ?"  To  this  Mr.  Williams  replied*  6(  I  am 
not  accountable  for  any  inferences  that  he  may  have 
drawn  from  conversation."  Mr.  Todd  then  added, 
**  If  the  matter  be  a  misrepresentation,  do  you  not 

In  another  conversation  which  I  had  with  him  on  [he  same 
subject,he  observed  to  me  that  he  had  seen  and  perused  a  copy 
of  Mr.Parkinson's  trial,and  felt  fullysatisnedwith  his  own  con 
duct  toward  Gold  street  church.  I  told  him  that  I  desired  to 
ask  him  a  close  question,  and  that,  if  he  felt  a  freedom,  he 
would  give  me  a  positive  answer:  I  stated  the  question,  viz  : 
"With  all  the  information  you  have  received,  both  from  con- 
versation and  printed  documents,  on  the  subject  of  the  un- 
happy differences  existing  among  the  Baptists  in  New- York, 
had  the  oppositionists  of  Gold  street  church  made  you  the 
same  candid  declaration  and  invitation,  Preach  wherever  a 
door  is  opened, visit  us  and  them,  and  be  determined  neither  to 
know  nor  feel  our  difficulties,  would  you  have  revoked  the  ap- 
pointment you  made  with  Mr.  Parkinson,  to  preach  in  his  pul- 
pit? To  which  he  replied,  J  would  not.  I  then  told  him,  that  of 
his  goodness  I  ever  had  a  high  opinion,  but  I  feared  that  his 
pretended  friends  had  triumphed  over  his  weakness,  to  hb 
prejudice." 


APPENDIX. 


85 


itink  Mr.  Williams,  that  it  is  your  duty  to  write  to 
some  one  in  Baltimore  and  correct  it  ?"  «  No,"  said 
Mr.  Williams,  "  since  the  Association  I  have  deter- 
mined neither  to  v< rite  nor  say  any  thing  on  the  sub- 
ject."*   From  this  statement  the  public  are  left  to 

*  Here  Mr  Williams  remarked  to  Messrs.  Cottrel  and- 
Todd,  that  the  Association,  in  refusing  to  appoint  a  commit- 
tee of  investigation  upon  the  case  of  the  First  Church, 
nad  acted  inconsistently  with  themselves,  in  as  much  as  on  a 
former  occasion  they  had  appointed  such  a  committee;  viz: 
on  the  difficulty  between  the  Fayette  st.  church  belonging 
then  to  the  Association,  and  the  Ebenezer  Baptist  church, 
applying  for  admission :  this  he  represented  as  a  similar  case ; 
but  certainly  Mr.  Williams,  in  that  instance,  must  haye 
spoken  without  consideration;  for,  on  a  little  reflection,  he 
or  any  one  acquainted  with  the  proceedings  of  B.ptist 
Associations,  must  discover  that  the  two  cases  materially 
differed.  The  Ebenezer  church  had  applied  for  admission ; 
in  which  case  it  is  a  uniform  custom  of  an  Association  to 
appoint  a  committee  to  inquire  into  the  origin  and  doctrines 
of  a  church  so  applying:  and  Mr.  W.  himself,  who,  on 
that  occasion,  moved  for  appointing  a  committee,  introdu- 
ced his  motion  by  referring  to  that  wellttnown  custom  :  be- 
sides, in  that  case  there  were  special  reasons  ;  the  Eben- 
ezer church  had  been  represented  as  holding  erroneous  doc- 
trines, and,  moreover,  as  having  received  ^  man  (Mr.  John 
Inglesby)  while  in  a  state  of  exclusion  from  the  Fayette' 
street  church.  But  were  there,  in  the  case  of  the  First 
Church,  any  doubts  entertained  by  the  Associativa  as  to 
constitution  or  doctrine  ?  Or  had  they  received  l^erson 
excluded  from  any  other  church  of  the  Association,  and  so 
given  offence  to  a  sister  church  ?  No;  they  had  only  exer- 
cised a  right  which  every  church  of  the  Association  exer- 
cises at  every  church  meeting ;  that  is,  the  right  of  doing 
their  own  business,  without  consulting  sister  churches. 
What  would  any  other  church  say  should  the  First  Church 
presume,  at  any  time,  to  interfere  with  her  proceedings,  or 
in  any  way  dictate  to  her  in  measures  of  discipline  ?  She 
would  _say  they  are  busying  themselves  about  other  men's 
matters. 

The  act  of  the  Fayette  street  church,  in  putting  away 
f  nglesby,  as  it  was  a  matter  of  discipline,  the  Association' 
had  no  right  to  call  into  question ;  nor  did  they  :  but  it  be- 
ing reported  that  die  Ebenezer  church,  the  church  applying 


APPENDIX, 


judge  whether  Mr.  Williams  has  not  given  evidence 
of  at  least,  a  great  want  of  candour  and  justice  to 
the  accused.    Mr.  Keis  is  going  through  the  country, 

for  admission,  had  received  the  said  excommunicated  man, 
and,  thereby,  offended  against  the  Fayette  street  church, 
also  that  they  held  doctrines  essentially  erroneous,  it  must 
be  obvious  to  all,  that  the  appointment  of  a  committee,  to 
inquire  whether  these  obstacles  to  their  reception  really  ex- 
isted, was  indispensable  :  and  this  committee,  having  found, 
that  the  Fayette  street  church,  by  their  representatives  (one 
or  two  of  whom  were  of  the  committee)  objected  to  receiv- 
ing the  said  church,  not  only  as  having  offended  against 
them,  in  having  received  a  man  they  had  excluded,  but  also 
as  holding,  in  their  opinion,  very  erroneous  sentiments,  it 
must  be  no  less  evident,  that  it  was  necessary  for  the  Asso- 
ciation to  appoint  a  committee  to  hear  from  the  Fayette  at. 
church,  what  the  sentiments  were  which  they  imputed  to 
the  church  applying  for  admission,  also  to  ascertain  whe- 
ther the  said  church  indeed  held  those  sentiments;  that  so 
011  report,  they  might  be  able  to  determine  whether,  provi- 
ded the  difficulty  respecting  the  excluded  person  should  be 
removed,  they  could,  in  point  of   doctrine,  receive  the 
Ebenezer  church. 

How  and  with  what  views,  the  Association  acted,  appears 
by  their  proceedings  on  the  subject,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  copy. 

Minutes  of  1807.  No.  6.  "  A  letter  was  presented  from 
the  Ebenezer  church  in  New- York,  requesting  admission  in- 
to this  Association,  and  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting 
of  brethren  Parkinson,  Bryant,  Runyan,  Garniss  and  Way- 
land. — No.  8.  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the 
letter  from  the  Ebenezer  church,  reported,  that  they  found 
a  difficulty  to  exist  \  etween  that  church,  and  one  of  the 
churches  in  this  Association,  which  would  render  the  ad- 
mission of  the  said  church  at  present  inexpedient,  and  re- 
commended, th»t  we  appoint  a  committee  out  of  the  First 
church  in  this  city,  to  confer  with  committees  that  may  be 
appointed,  for  that  purpose  by  the  churches  between  whom 
the  difficulty  lies,  not  doubting,  that  by  such  conference, 
the  obstacle  may  be  removed,  that  so  the  Ebenezer  church 
may  be  received  at  our  next  session."— No.  9.  The  Asso- 
ciation, having  concurred  with  the  above  report,  appointed 
brethren  Wm.  Parkinson,  Jas.  Duffie  and  Jno.  Bedient,  a 
Committee  to  confer  with  the  committees  which  we  advis* 


APPENDIX, 


and,  however  innocently,  no  doubt  mentioning  the 
above  representation,  wherever  interrogated  on  the 
subject,  and  Mr»  Williams  is  willing  the  representa- 

the  said  churches  to  appoint  without  delay,  that  so  the  con- 
ference may  be  had  as  soon  as  possible." 

41  Minutes  of  1808.— No  8.  "  A  letter  was  presented 
from  the  Ebenezer  Baptist  church  in  New-York,  again  re- 
questing to  be  admitted  into  this  Association  ;  whereupon 
the  Report  of  the  committee  appointed  last  year,  relative  to 
said  church,  in  the  case  of  the  Ebenezer  church,  having 
reported,  that  the  difficulty  between  that  people  and  the 
church  in  Fayette  street  is  not  removed ;  and  being  assured 
by  their  own  publications  as  well  as  by  other  means  of  in- 
formation, that  the  Ebenezer  church  holds  several  doctrines 
which  we  deem  inconsistent,  not  only  with  the  doctrines 
ever  held  by  this  Association,  but  also  with  the  oracles  of 
God,  it  was  resolved,  that  under  existing  circumstanses, 
the  request  of  said  church  cannot  be  granted." 

Thus  it  is  manifest,  that  in  the  above  case,  the  Associa- 
tion did  in  no  sense,  interfere  with  the  discipline  of  the 
Fayette  st.  church ;  whereas  the  measure  which  that  church 
and  others  would  have  had  the  Association  to  adopt,  in  re- 
ference to  the  First  Church,  would  have  been  wholly  res- 
pecting disipline,  and  so  a  direct  attack  upon  her  indepen- 
dence. 

Now,  although  the  Association,  at  its  original  formation, 
resolved  that  it  would  be  their  duty  to  disown  any  church, 
in  their  connexion,  upon  evidence  of  essential  departure 
from  the  faith  ;  and  although  they  must  necessarily  do  the 
same  by  any  church,  upon  evidence  of  her  retaining  mem- 
bers,  known  to  indulge  in  immoral  practices ;  also  by  any 
church  neglecting  to  investigate  charges  exhibited  against 
any  of  her  members,  to  the  dishonor  of  religion  in  the 
world;  nevertheless,when  a  church,under  such  circumstances, 
has  faithfully  and  conscientiously  investigated  such  charges 
— found  them  to  be  incredible,  and  reported  the  same  to  the 
Association,  if  sister  churches  remain  dissatisfied,  or  it 
they  or  the  Association  claim  the  right  of  domix  again  what 
had  been  done  by  the  church,  they  do  in  effect,  call  into 
question  either  her  competency  or  her  integrity,  and  so  des- 
troy all  confidence  among  churches.  This  power,  therefore, 
the  Association,  in  its  origin,  wisely  and  justly  disclaimed 
and  determined  never  to  exercise.  See  "  The  Plan,  &c.  of 
the  New-York  Association  "  at  the  end  of  this  work 


38 


APPENDIX, 


lion  which  he  himself  declares  to  be  false,  should 
continue  to  be  made  !* 

That  Mr.  Williams  could  not  have  had  his  mind 
disaffected  toward  the  accused  by  any  confession  made 
to  him,  is  evident  not  only  from  his  own  above  decla- 
ration, but  also  from  the  following  simple  history  of 
events.  On  the  first  or  second  day  after  the  Stewart 
trial,  Mr.  Williams  called  at  the  house  of  the  accu 
sed — congratulated  him  on  his  acquittal — and,  after 
inueli  friendly  conversation,  on  leaving  him,  begged 
that  he  (the  accused)  would  not  think  hard  of  any 
thing  that  had  passed,!  and  expressed  a  hope  that 
friendship  would  remain  as  usual. 

On  the  Friday  after  the  Stewart  trial,  Mr.  Maclay 
also  called  at  the  house  of  the  accused ;  and,  as  he 
resumed  his  former  air  of  apparent  friendship  and 
tenderness,  and  solicited  a  visit  in  return,  it  was  man- 
ifest to  the  accused,  that  he  had  called  with  a  view 
of  taking  measures  to  have  all  difficulties  removed. 
The  reason  was  obvious  ;  he  had  been  disappointed 
in  his  exertions  to  destroy  his  neighbour,  by  means 
of  the  charges  of  Mrs.  Stewart ;  and,  afraid  that  he 
would  expose  him,  he  wished  to  prevent  it,  by  expla- 
nation of  motives  and  revival  of  intimacy.  Howev- 
er as  the  accused  was  just  preparing  to  take  the  boat 
for  Staten-Island  he  had  but  little  opportunity  with 
him.— From  that  day  to  this,  the  accused  has  never 
exchanged  one  word  with  either  Mr.  Williams  or  Mr. 

*  Mr.  Williams  may  justly  be  considered,  as  the  Flower 
of  all  those,  who  have  countenanced  the  measures  taken 
against  the  accused  and  the  First  Church  ;  and  as  he  was 
capable  of  ac  ting  in  the  manner  represented ;  what  may  not 
many  others  be  supposed  to  have  been  capable  of? 

f  Alluding,  it  was  supposed,  to  some  doubt,  which,  at 
one  time,  he  had  expressed  as  to  the  innocence  of  the  ac- 
cused, in  relation  to  the  charges  of  Mrs,  Stewart. 


APPENDIX 


89 


Maelay,  except  once  or  twice  giving  the  time  of  day. 
as  distantly  passing  in  the  street.  When  could  any 
confession  to  Mr.  Williams  have  been  made  ? 

To  expose  the  faults  of  any  of  his  fellow  creatures 
is,  to  the  accused,  a  very  unpleasant  task,  he  being 
greatly  averse  to  it,  from  a  common  sense  of  honour 
and  humanity  ;  but  to  do  so  in  relation  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liams gives  more  grief  than  he  can  find  language  to 
express  for  he  esteems  and  loves  him  as  a  Brother 
in  Christ  and  as  a  fellow  labourer  in  his  vineyard 
and  therefore,  while  he  writes  these  things,  sorrow 
fills  his  heart :  nevertheless,  Mr.  W.  having  been, 
like  Barnabas,  carried  away  with  the  tide  of  dissimu- 
lation, he  must,  like  him,  be  exposed ;  Gal.  2.  13. 
.The  best  apology  the  accused  can  make  for  the  coa- 
duct  of  an  offending  brother,  is,  that  many  members 
of  his  church,  and  among  those  the  most  influential,, 
have  been  very  actively  engaged  against  the  First 
Church  and  their  pastor,  and  therefore  that  Mr.  Wil- 
liams had  to  countenance,  in  some  measure,  their 
proceedings,  or  incur  their  displeasure ;  the  effect?: 
of  which,  to  him,  might  have  been  very  serious, f 

However,  as  the  aforementioned  rumours  of  the  ac- 
cused having  sustained  a  bad  character  before  hr 
came  to  New- York,  have  gone  abroad,  it  is  judged 
expedient  to  subjoin  the  toll  owing  letters,  written — 
the  two  former,  at  particular  request,  to  meet  the 
said  reports  when  they  first  came  cut,  and  the  two 
latter,  by  way  of  condolence  after  the  trials  of  the 
accused  at  court.     The  originals  of  them  all  may  be 

.  #  It  is  not  intended  hereby,  to  imply  that  no  oilier  person* 
among  those  who  have  aided  the  wicked  measure?,  taken 
to  destroy  the  accused,  are  christians  ;  nor  that  some  among 
the  ministers,  who  hare  done  so,  (at  least  by  acquiescence 
and  approbation)  are  christian  ministers. 

f  This  exposure  of  those  concerned  in  making  impres- 
sions unfavourable  to  the  accused,  in  relation  to  his  charac 


90 


APPENDIX. 


seen  by  applying  to  the  persons  to  whom  they  were 
severally  addressed. 

The  two  former  of  these  letters,  were  written  with 
a  design  that  they  should  be  used  to  refute  falsehood ; 
yet,  probably,  not  under  an  expectation  that  they 
would  be  printed  i  and  as  they  were  written,  on  a 
very  short  notice,  and  necessarily  in  great  haste,  that 
they  might  arrive  here  before  the  Wintringham  trial, 
which  commenced  on  the  2d  of  July,  1811, -the  gen- 
tlemen who  wrote  them,  may  possibly  regret  not  hav« 
ing  had  an  opportunity  to  revise  them,  previous  to 
their  being  published.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that 
they  will  consider  the  circumstances  of  a  distant  re- 
sidence and  the  recency  of  the  resolution  that  it  was 
expedient  the  letters  should  appear,  as  constituting 
a  sufficient  appology  for  the  ace  used  and  his  breth- 
ren. 

ter,before  he  came  toNew-York,is  not  only  just,but,like  every 
other  exposure  in  the  work,  the  result  of  necessity.    If  the 
reader  be  not  convinced  of  this  by  the  circumstances  alrea- 
dy related,  let  him  consider  the  following.- — On  Saturday, 
March  27,  1813,  the  accused  received,  through  the  medium 
of  the  Post-Office,  a  copy  of  No.  1.  of  the  Hypocrite  Unmask- 
ed, inclosed  in  an  an<m\pnous  note,  in  these  words  :  "  No.  2. 
will  tarry  until  your  apology  for  your  conduct,  appears,  if 
it  shall  appear  in  any  reasonable  time.    You  will  be  par- 
ticular to  state  your  confession  before  the  church.    If  you 
do  not,  No.  2.  will,  besides  a  catalogue  of  facts  thai  will  be 
collected  to  the  South."    Now,  as  this  note  contained  a  copy 
of  the  labours  of  the  committee  (p,  43.)  and  a  threat  of  an 
additional  No.  the  accused  thinks  himself  justifiable  in  sup- 
posing, that  it  came  from  the  committee,  or,  at  least,  from 
one  of  their  agents ;  and  although  he  has  no  fears  from  No. 
2.  nor  from  any  other  No,  nevertheless,  if  anonymously  or 
otherwise,  the  committee  or  their  agents,  without  contradic- 
tion, are  permitted  to  circulate  falsehood,  some  may  be  in- 
duced to  credit  what  they  say.    Can  then  any  one,  in  rea- 
son, disapprove  of  the  exposure  ? 


APPENDIX. 


90 


LETTER  I. 

From  the  Rev.  Samuel  Knox,  of  (he  Presbyterian 
denomination,  formerly  pastor  of  the  presbyterian 
ehurch  and  principal  of  the  Academy  at  Frederick- 
Town,  (Md.)  and  now  a  Professor  in  the  College  at 
Baltimore  ;  addressed  to  the  accused. 

"Baltimore  College,  June  25,  181i. 

"  Rev.  dear  Sir, 

"  Your's  of  the  17th  inst.  did  not  come  to  hand 
till  last  evening .... 

"Nothing,  of  like  nature,  could  occasion  me  more 
astonishment  than  the  contents  of  your  letter,  not  a 
syllable  of  which  had  previously  come  to  my  know- 
ledge. 

"  I  can  truly  assert,  that  during  the  six  years  I 
resided  in  Frederick-Town,  the  greater  part  of 
which  time  you  was  personally  known  to  me,  and 
I  had  frequent  opportunities  of  attending  to  your 
ministry,  and  learning  your  character  and  standing 
with  the  society  with  which  you  was  connected,  yet 
neither  there,  nor  during  the  time  you  sojourned  at 
Washington,  as  chaplain  to  Congress, — nor  in  this 
city,  where  you  are  well  known,  did  I  ever  hear  the 
slightest  insinuation  against  your  moral  or  religious 
deportment.  In  your  native  state, (Maryland, through- 
out the  greater  part  of  which  I  am  well  acquainted,  I 
do  not  believe  that  ever  calumny  itself  uttered  a  whis- 
per to  your  disadvantage.  As  for  myself,  I  most  so- 
lemnly declare,  that  from  all  concerning  you  that 
ever  came  under  my  knowledge,  I  considered  you  as 
one  of  those  whom  God  had,  for  his  own  service,  en- 
dowed with  more  than  a  common  share  of  his  divine 
grace. 

"  You  may.  therefore,  judge  what  I  feel  for  you 

T 


It 


APPENDIX, 


under  your  present  situation.  It  must  be  a  severe  tri- 
al: but  I  trust,  that,  for  the  Glory  of  your  Divine 
Master,  and  the  honor  of  his  religion,  you  will  come 
forth  "  like  gold  seven  times  purified," 

"  I  need  not  suggest  to  you,  that  all  who  would 
live  a  godly  life,  must  suffer  persecution — you  are 
prepared  for  this.  I  remember  during  the  period  of 
my  ministry  at  Frederick-Town,  to  have  seen  a  man, 
seemingly  in  wrath  and  muttering  to  himself,  leave 
Jour  congregation,  because  you  had  severely  in- 
veighed against  some  Arminian  tenet  of  which  he  was 
a  zealous  advocate  :  and  this  was  the  only  individual 
in  Maryland  that  I  ever  knew  or  heard  of  uttering  a 
voice  against  you.  This  may  serve  to  show,  how- 
ever, that  we  sometimes  have  enemies  of  those  who 
eannot  bear  the  truth.  My  trust  is,  that  your  present 
enemies,havenobctter  plea  against  you  than  this.  And, 
if  so,  I  need  not  tell  you  where  to  look  for  comfort. 
"  Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  persecute  you,  and  say 
"all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely." 

"  My  dear  sir,  you  will  excuse  the  manner  in  which 
I  write  this.  It  is  in  great  haste,  in  order  that  I  may 
not  be  too  late  for  the  first  mail  for  your  city. 

**  As  I  trust  that  none  could  be  more  averse  than  I 
am,  to  palliate  any  voluntary  violation  of  ministerial 
character,  so  on  the  other  hand,  do  I  hope  that  none 
can  more  feelingly  sympathize  with  you,  or  any  other 
brother,  persecuted  for- righteousness'  sake. 

"  I  remain  your's  truly  and  affectionately,  &c. 

«  SAMUEL  KNOX* 

«  Rev.  Mr.  Parkinson." 

LETTER  II. 

From  the  Rev.  Lewis  Richards,  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Baltimore ;  addressed  to  Mr.  Wm. 
W,  Todd,  Merchant,  of  this  city. 


APPENDIX.  92 

*«  Baltimore,  June  27th,  1811, 

«  My  dear  friend, 

"  I  am  sorry  I  was  not  at  home  when  your  letter 
was  left  at  my  house.  And  now  I  am  come  home,  I 
am  fearful  that  what  I  am  ahout  to  write,  will  ar- 
rive too  ldt;i  to  be  of  any  service  to  my  dear,  injured 
brother  Parkinson.  I  am  truly  sorry  to  find  that  the 
ungodly  and  false-hearted  professors,  are  determined* 
if  possible,  by  their  lies,  to  ruin  his  usefulness  in 
New- York  ;  but  I  trust  they  will  yet  be  disappointedf 
in  their  diabolical,  deep  laid  plan,  to  drive  your  pas- 
tor out  of  your  city. 

«  The  manner  in  which  I  became  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Parkinson,  was  as  follows.  About  twenty  three 
years  ago,  I  used,  once  a  month  to  visit  and  preach 
at  Tany  Town  :  his  father  and  mother  being  profes 
sors,  and  living  on  my  way,  near  Tany  Town,  I  used 
to  call  at  his  father's  house,  and  sometimes  preached 
there.  William  Parkinson  was  then  but  a  lad,  and, 
to  the  best  of  my  recollection  wemt  to  school.  He 
appeared  to  be  a  steady  boy,  and  I  observed  that  he 
used  to  attend  family  worship,  when  I  stayed  at  his 
father's.*  Some  time  afterward  he  went  to  live  with 
Mr.  John  Steel,  Merchant,  at  Tany  Town,  and  1  of 
ten  saw  him  at  meeting.  Thence  Mr.  Steel  removed 
his  Store  to  Creagar's  Town,  and  Mr.  P.  went  with 

#  The  accused,  after  receiving  what  education  was  sup 
posed,  by  his  friends,  to  be  necessary  for  the  common  pur 
poses  of  life,  remained  with  his  father,  about  three  years,  un- 
determined as  to  his  future  employment.  Part  of  that  time 
he  spent  in  labouring  on  his  father's  farm,  and  part  of  it  in 
teaching  a  school ;  constantly,  however,  devoting  a  consi- 
derable share  of  his  leisure  hours,  to  reading  and  study,  to 
which  he  always  had  a  strong  inclination.  At  about  the 
age  of  17,  he  determined  on  pursuing  a  mercantile  life,  and 
accordingly  spent  three  years,  int  acquiring  some  knowledge 
<d  that  business. 


APPENDIX. 


liiui.  How  long  Mi*.  Steel  continued  there,  before  he 
removed  to  this  city,  I  cannot  say.  I  recollect  to 
have  been  once  at  Creagar's  Town,  during  the  time 
Mr.  P.  was  there,  but  I  do  not  remember  ever  hearing 
any  one  say  that  he  was  a  wild  or  wicked  youth,  or 
given  to  dissipation  iu  any  way  whatever.  After  Mr, 
Steel  came  to  this  city  and  Mr.  P.  with  him,*  he  soon 

#  The  accused  went  to  Baltimore,  several  months  before 
Mr.  Steel,  and  lived  with  Vles'srs.  Christopher  and  Robert 
Johnston  ;  but  when  Mr.  Sie  e$  nmenced  business  in  Bal 
timore,  he  prevailed  on  him  to  return  to  live  with  him 
There  he  continued,  until  it  wad  'he  pleasure  of  God,  under 
the  labours  of  his  dear  Servant  Elder  Lewis  Richards,  to  call 
him  to  the  knowledge  of  himseif  as  a  sinner,  and  to  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  as  "  The  Lord  his  righteousness."  Here- 
upon, immediately,  he  began  to  have  impressions  exciting 
him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry:  and  although  a  sense  of 
his  ignorance,  unworthiness  and  insufficiency,  compared 
with  the  greatness  of  the  work,  caused  him  to  think  it 
scarcely  possible  that  God  had  designed  him  to  be  em- 
ployed in  it ;  nevertheless,  his  impressions,  on  the  subject, 
were  so  powerful,  that  in  a  short  time,  he  could  find  no 
peace  of  mind  underthem,  nor  any  means  of  evading  or  re- 
sisting them.  Wherefore,  sensible  that  he  was,  at  least  for 
the  time  being,  disqualified  for  business,  he  soon  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  was  his  duty  to  quit  it,  and  to  relinquish 
any  calculations  he  had  made,  of  a  worldly  nature.  And, 
conscious  that  although  regeneration  is  the  work  of  God 
alone,  [Eph.  2.  10,]  and  that  Spiritual  Gifts  for  the  ministry, 
come  only  from  Christ,  who  hath  received  them  according 
to  the  provisions  of  the  covenant,  and,  at  pleasure,  confers 
them  ou  those  for  whom  they  were  intended  ;  [Psal.  68.  18  ; 
Eph.  4.  8 — 12;]  also  that  all  perception  of  the  spirituality 
of  Scripture,  is  through  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
the  experience  of  the  ways  of  God  in  providence,  [1.  Cor.  2. 
9—14;  Deut.  32.  10 — 11 ;  Job  42.  5,  6,]  yet  that  a  literal 
knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  an  acquaintance  with 
the  history  of  the  Church  and  the  World,  which  are  also 
necessaiy,  in  the  qualifications  of  a  gospel  minister,  are  ob- 
tained only  through  the  use  of  means,  he  resolved,  by  Di- 
vine permission,  to  give  himself  to  reading,  connected  with 
efforts  to  make  some  attainments  in  literature ;  that  so, 
If  finally  constrained  to  engage  in  the  public  work  of  the 


APPENDIX. 


came  to  see  me — got  acquainted  with  my  family,  and 
regularly  attended  my  ministry.  When  ever  I  had 
an  opportunity  to  observe  his  conduct,  (and  he  used 
almost  every  Lord's  day  to  call  at  my  house,  and  was 
as  one  of  my  own  family,)  1  saw  in  him  nothing  im- 
proper. I  can  truly  say  that  his  life,  for  a  consider- 
able time  before  he  made  a  profession  of  religion, 
was  such,  that  our  old  professors  used  to  say  to  their 
children,  when  given  to  levity,  "  We  wish  you  were 
like  P.  look  how  steadily  and  regularly  he  attends 
the  House  of  God.  Thus  much  I  have  had  to  say  of 
Mr.  Parkinson's  private  life,  that  I  know  of,  before 
ite  professed  religion. 

"  Since  Mr.  P.  was  ordained,  by  Elder  Jeremiah 
Moore  and  myself,  I  have  often  been  at  his  house,  in 
Frederick-Town,  and  he  has  often  been  at  my  house, 
but  I  can  truly  say,  in  the  presence  of  the  searcher 
of  hearts,  that  I  never  saw  any  thing  in  his  conduct 
that  was  unworthy  of  a  gospel  minister  ;  neither  did 
I  ever  think  or  mistrust,  that  he  was  guilty  of  the  sin 
of  which  some  of  the  women  in  New-York  have  ac- 
cused him.  Ten  years  ago,  I  requested  Mr.  P.  to 
come  and  preach  to  the  people  of  my  charge,  for  a 
month,  while  I  took  a  tour  to  the  lower  parts  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  desired  him  to  make  my  house  his  home, 
and  to  take  the  care  of  my  family :  I  had  then  two 
daughters,  women  grown  ;  the  eldest  of  whom  was 
married  and  her  husband,  at  that  time,  had  gone  to 
England  on  business  :  they  informed  me,  on  my  re- 
turn, that  Mr.  P.  had  behaved  with  the  greatest 
modesty,  uprightness  and  propriety,  of  any  man  they 
ever  saw,  during  the  whole  time  he  stayed  at  my  house. 

Lord,  he  might  not  enter  upon  it  altogether,  as  a  novice. 
See  1  Tim.  3.  6,  and  4.  13;  aiso  2  Tim.  2.  15.  Under  this 
resolution  he  went  to  Frederick-Town. 


95 


APPENDIX 


I  have  asked  my  second  daughter  (now  present)  if 
she  did  not,  as  well  as  her  sister,  inform  me  that  Mr. 
P.  conducted  himself  as  I  have  stated  ;  and  she  has 
answered,  Yes,  it  is  really  true.  My  present  wife, 
before  I  ever  saw  her,  travelled  with  brother  Parkin- 
sou,  and  put  herself  under  his  care,  from  her  bro- 
ther's house,  in  Jefferson  county,  Virginia,  down  to 
Westmoreland  county,  in  the  same  state,  upwards  of 
100  miles  :  he  had  meetings  all  the  way :  Mrs. 
Richards  declares  that  no  minister  she  ever  travelled 
with,  behaved  with  more  cleverness  and  uprightness 
of  life  and  conversation,  than  Mr.  P.—  Mrs.  N.  Lever- 
ing and  Miss  Betsey  Welch,  who  took  a  long  tour 
with  him  last  summer,  when  he  was  on  his  southern 
visit,  say  the  same  of  our  injured  and  persecuted 
friend.  This  is  all  I  know  of  Mr.  Parkinson's  private 
or  public  life,  since  I  have  been  acquainted  with  him. 
Poor  man  !  I  feel  for  him  and  pitty  him  from  my 
heart,  that  such  scandals  should  be  raised  upon  him ; 
and  which  I  can  only  account  for  in  one  way,  viz : 
since  he  has  been  settled  among  you,  the  Lord  has 
owned  and  blessed  his  labours  to  the  conversion  of 
many  precious  souls — he  is  envied  and  hated  by  for- 
malists and  hypocritical  professors-*-Satan  is  angry 
that  he  has  been  instrumental  in  the  Lord's  hand, 
to  rob  him  of  some  of  his  faithful  servants, 
who  are  now  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  Christ : 
hence  he  (Satan)  has  set  some  of  his  servants 
to  study  a  plot,  designed  to  prevent,  if  possible,  Par- 
kinson's preaching  from  doing  any  more  good  in  New- 
York  ;  but  I  trust  the  Lord,  who  hath  hitherto  been 
with  him,  will  still  be  with  and  deliver  him.  Give 
my  love  to  him,  and  tell  him  I  endeavour  to  pray  for 
him.  I  cannot  add,  lest  this  hasty  scrawl  should  be 
too  late  for  to-day's  mail.   Please  to  write  me  as 


APPENDIX, 


96 


soon  as  the  trial  is  over,  as  I,  with  many  others  of 
Mr.  Parkinson's  friends  here,  will  be  anxious  to 
know  how  the  matter  shall  have  terminated. 
"  1  am  your  sincere  friend, 

"LEWIS  RICHARDS." 

LETTER  III. 

From  Mr.  George  Presstman,  a  deacon  in  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Baltimore ;  to  the  accused. 

"  Baltimore,  Sept.  12th,  1811. 
<i  Dear  Brother  in  the  Lord, 

"  I  have  thought  for  some  time  past,  of  writ- 
ing a  letter  to  you,  by  way  of  condolence ;  to  let 
you  know,  that  we,  in  this  place,  feel  sensibly  for  you* 
under  your  afflictions  :  we  would  mourn  with  those 
that  mourn,  and  rejoice  with  those  that  rejoice.  You 
have  many  sincere  friends  here :  indeed  our  know- 
ledge of  you,  from  your  early  days  amongst  us,  when 
you  were  in  the  mercantile  line, — your  steady  con- 
duct and  attendance  on  the  preaching  of  the  word  of 
life,  until  it  was  the  pleasure  of  God  to  reveal  his 
Son  in  you,  under  the  ministry  of  our  dear  pastor, 
who  feels  for  you  as  a  father — your  several  calls  to 
labour  among  us,  in  your  ministerial  office,  and  the 
pleasure  we  have  had  in  hearing  you  dispense 
the  truth  not  only  to  the  edification  of  believers  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  hearers  in  general,  but  also 
to  the  lasting  remembrance  and  effectual  calling  of 
some,  before  careless,  are,  with  many  other  things 
that  might  be  mentioned,  such  evidences  to  us,  in 
your  favour,  that  we  could  not  believe  an  evil  report 
against  your  moral  character  ;  though  circulated  by 
men  professing  godliness,  and  even  by  preachers  of 
the  word.  Alas,  how  prejudices  take  root  in  some 
professors!  But.  their  words  were  here  as  idfi 
tales, 


97 


APPENDIX. 


However,  notwithstanding  our  high  opinion,  and 
that  justly  grounded,  we  were  sensible,  my  dear  bro- 
ther,that  you  are  but  a  man, and  subject  to  like  infirmi- 
ties with  others  of  the  human  race ;  and  therefore, 
that  if  not  kept  by  the  mighty  power  of  God,  through 
his  sovereign  grace  in  Christ  Jesus,  you  would  fall, 
and  fall — for,  like  others,  you  can  have  no  pretension 
to  say,  When  the  tempter  cometh  he  can  find  nothing 
in  me:  no,  "  in  us,"  alas!  *•  that  is,  in  our  flesh, 
dwelleth  no  good  thing." 

We  thank  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  for  enabling  you  to  bear  up  under  the  difficul- 
ties and  distress  of  mind  which  the  unhappy  affair 
must  have  occasioned. — The  church  of  God  and  the 
gospel  of  Christ  were  attacked,  by  the  hellish  rage 
of  jealousy,  aided  by  the  hottest  persecution  ;  the 
ungodly  venting  their  scoff  and  ridicule,  and  humble 
Christians  their  grief  and  anxiety  while  you  were 
declared  to  be  the  cause  of  it  all !  Truly  "  many  are 
the  afflictions  of  the  righteous  :  but,"  blessed  be 
God,  he  hath  said  and  hath  performed  "  the  Lord 
delivereth  him  out  of  them  all." 

We  feel  indebted  to  your  church,  and  we  believe 
all  churches  do,  who  love  the  gospel  and  discipline  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  tho'  some  of  them  may  have 
jealous  teachers  :  yes,  the  perseverance  of  the  First 
Church  in  New- York,  in  their  steady  attachment  to 
their  suffering  minister  and  the  cause  of  truth,  de 
serves  to  be  held  in  remembrance  by  all  who  love 
the  gospel  of  the  dear  Redeemer.  How  often,  alas  ! 
do  persons,  seemingly  religious,  shrink  back  from 
their  duty ;  and,  being  cold  in  the  work  of  God, 
give  way  to  the  multitude,  even  though  they  be  doing 
evil !  But  not  so  your  church  ;  they  stood  forth  as 
men,  to  their  honour  be  it  spoken,  and  to  the  honour 
of  the  gospeL 


APPENDIX 


i  have  seen  the  trial,  and  wonder  how  a  prosecu* 
tion  could  be  brought  on  so  weak  a  foundation.  I  am 
sorry  that  so  many  evidences  and  the  introduction  of 
so  many  circumstances  were  necessary  ;  but  perceive 
that  such  was  the  rage  of  the  prosecutrix  ar.d  that  of 
her  supporters,  that  all  the  means  employed  were  ne- 
cessary to  invalidate  her  testimony. 

I  dave  heard  with  pleasure  the  letter  from  your 
faithful  church  :  it  has  fully  stopped  the  mouths  of 
gainsayers  here.  We  hope  and  pray,  tbat  the  Father 
of  Mercies,  who  has  dispelled  that  dreadful  storm 
will  knit  your  hearts  in  love,  more  and  more  ,*  that 
this  instance  of  attachment  will  ever  prove  to  you 
and  the  church  a  source  of  mutual  love,  and  that  you 
may  break  the  bread  of  life  together  many  days. 
"We  hope  that  no  means  of  the  enemy  will  be  able  to 
effect  a  separation  ;  being  persuaded  that  the  safety 
of  both  and  the  honour  of  the  cause,  is  a  lasting 
union.  Whoever,  therefore,  attempts  your  separa- 
tion is  an  enemy. 

My  dear  friend,  though  you  have  cause  of  thank- 
fulness, yet  not  of  boasting.  The  Lord  hath  done 
it.  I  hope  and  trust  you  will  walk  the  path  of  hu 
milky.  Let  the  dispute  by  no  means  enter  your  pul- 
pit ;  less  acrimony,  if  possible,  now  than  before  ; — 
your  conversation  open,  with  a  proper  reserve ;  but 
not  remarkably  distant.  Years  and  gray  hairs  are 
not  always  wise,  but  let  sincerity  plead  my  cause ; 
who  am,  at  this  time  72  years  of  age — 50  odd  years 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  a  weak  member  in- 
deed, yet  have  stood  many  storms,  tho*  none  out- 
wardly ;  flesh  and  spirit  much  at  variance.  Though 
unworthy,  I  have  enjoyed  many  blessings  :  out  of 
three  children,  two  have  joined  the  church,  and  one 

grand  child.    Blessed  be  God  for  thef;e  mercies. 

u 


99 


APPENDIX. 


May  the  blessing  of  God  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  and  the  church  you  serve, 
is  the  prayer  of  your  affectionate  father  as  to  a  son. 

GEORGE  PRESSTMAN." 

LETTER  IV. 

From  the  same,  to  the  same. 
[This  letter,  consists,  chiefly,  of  matter  which 
does  not  relate  to  the  subject  in  question  ;  therefore 
only  extracts  from  it  are  given  ] 

"  Haltimore  June  6,  1812. 

"  Dear  brother, 

"I  have  had  thoughts  for  sometime  past,  of  drop 
ping  a  few  lines  to  you,  but  through  infirmity  and 
one  cause  or  another,  have  omitted  until  now. 

"  I  saw  a  letter  the  other  day,  giving  an  account 
of  your  late  Association  in  New-York.  Alas  !  that 
men  professing  godliness,  can  be  guilty  of  revenge 
and  make  use  of  every  stratagem  that  Satan  can  de- 
vise. What !  wish  a  committee  to  be  appointed  to 
investigate  over  again  what  both  church  and  state 
had  so  minutely  investigated  before  ! 

"  The  highly  honourable  and  persevering  christian 
spirit  of  the  Gold  street  church,  in  supporting  the 
independence  of  churches,  will  be  long  held  in  es- 
teem and  reverence,  by  all  orderly,  well-informed 
and  well-disposed  christians.  What  a  situation 
should  we  soon  be  in,  if  every  troublesome  church 
that  creeps  into  an  Association,  were  to  be  gratified 
by  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  give  them  sat- 
isfaction at  every  turn  f 

"  And  as  to  you,  my  friend,  who  have  been  tried  as 
with  fire,  yet  not  consumed,  your  attachment  to  the 
church  and  that  of  the  church  to  you,  have  baffled 
and  silenced  all  gainsaycrs.    May  it  please  that  gra- 


APPENDIX, 


100 


eious  God,  who  has  been  your  helper  through  trials, 
the  most  severe,  even  like  lire  itself,  to  cause  that 
the  "  smell  of  fire  may  not  rest  on  your  garments. 

"  I  remain,  your  friend  and  brother,  in  the  best  of 
bonds.  GEO.  PRESSTMAN." 

P.  S.  I  feel  myself  weakening,  for  some  time  past, 
very  sensibly  :  whether  from  taking  cold,  or  natural, 
God  only  knows.  I  may  be  spared  to  hear  you  preach, 
if  you  should  pass  this  way  :  I  may  yet  see  a  new 
church,  and  many  great  mercies  of  God,  in  this  place  : 
but  I  feel  as  if  my  stay  will  be  short,  Thoroughly 
reconciled.  G.  P 

LETTER  Y.  \ 

From  the  Baptist  Church,  at  Frederick-Town,  in 
Frederick  county,  state  of  Maryland ;  which  shows 
the  accused  to  have  been  in  good  standing,  in  that 
church,  when  he  left  his  native  state,  to  come  to 
New-York.* 

«  The  Church  of  Christ,  at  Frederick-Town,  stats 
of  Maryland:  Holding  the  doctrines  of  a  Trinity  in 
Unity  ;  the  total  depravity  ant!  entire  helplessness  of 
man,  in  his  fallen  state;  particular,  eternal  election  ; 
justification  by  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ ; 
regeneration  by  the  irresistible  energy  of  the  Holy- 
Spirit  ;  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints,  in  grace, 
to  glory ;  the  general  resurrection  of  the  dead ;  a 
general  judgement ;  and  the  eternal  happiness  of  the* 

*  The  accused  joined  the  church  at  Frederick-Town* 
June  24,  1796,  having  been  baptized,  the  Lord's  day  pre- 
ceding, at  Woodsberry,  in  the  same  county.  £oon  after, 
he  was  licensed  to  preach;  and,  on  Lord's  day,  April  1st, 
1798,  he  was  ordained,  and  took  upon  him  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  said  church.  Re  remained  a  member  of  thai 
church,  from  the  time  he  joined  it,  and  the  pastor  of  it,  from 
the  time  of  his  ordination,  until  his  removal  to  New-York- 


101 


APPENDIX, 


righteous,  and  eternal  misery  of  the  wicked:  also  the 
ordinances  of  believer's  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per.   To  any  church  of  the  same  faith  and  order, 

Send  Greeting : — 

u  Dear  Brethren? 

"  Whereas,  the  bearer  hereof,  our  beloved  bro- 
ther, Elder  William  Parkinson,  is  about  to  remove 
from  among  us,  to  the  city  of  New- York,  and  hath 
requested  of  us  a  letter  of  dismission, 

"  We  do,  hereby,  certify,  That  he  is  in  good  stand- 
ing and  high  esteem  with  us,  both  as  a  member  of  the 
church,  and  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel ;  and  as  such; 
we  recommend  him  to  your  care  and  fellowship. — ■ 
When  received  by  you,  our  immediate  watch-care 
over  him  will  cease,  but  our  brotherly  affection  for 
him  will  continue, 

Done  at  our  church -meeting,  1 
FrederiekrTowii,  March  15,  1806.  j 

MIDDLETON  SMITH.  Clerk." 


The  propriety  and  necessity  of  publishing  the  fore- 
going letters,  to  refute  the  unfounded  and  slander- 
ous reports,  that  the  accused  had  sustained  a  had 
character  before  he  left  Maryland,  must  be  so  obvi- 
ous,  that,  Surely,  no  one  can  have  any  pretence  fov 
imputing  it  to  vanity. 


Copies  of  the  principles  upon  which  the  New- 
York  Baptist  Association  was  formed,  and  of 
the  rules  originally  adopted  for  the  regulation  of  its 
proceedings,  having  become  scarce,  and  some  of  the 
younger  churches  not  having  ever  seen  them,  it  is 
judged  expedient  and  desirable  that  they  be  republish- 


APPENDIX, 


sd;  Accordingly  this  opportunity  is  embraced,  for 
rendering  that  service. 

The  Plan  or  Regulations  of  the  New-Fork  Baptist 
Jlssocwtion. 

t.  This  Union  of  Churches  shall  be  styled  the 
New-York  Association. 

2.  The  articles  of  faith  to  which  the  Churches  of 
this  Association  subscribe,  in  a  summary  way,  are  as 
follow — Three  equal  persons  in  the  divine  essence  ; 
eternal  and  personal  election  to  holiness  here  and 
eternal  life  hereafter:  The  original  guilt  and  total 
depravity  of  mankind  particular  redemption  ;  free 
justification  by  the  imputed  righteousness  oi  Jesus 
Christ :  efficacious  and  irresistible  grace  in  regene- 
ration; the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints  in  grace* 
water  baptism  by  immersion  on  a  profession  of  repen- 
tance towards  God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  eternal  punishment  of  the  wicked  in  as  un- 
limited a  sense  as  the  happiness  of  the  righteous.  In 
fine,  we  approve  of  the  Baptist  confession  of  faith  as 
adopted  and  held  by  the  Association  of  Philadelphia, 
as  happily  expressing  our  sentiments,  contained  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures  of  divine  truth  ;  which  we  acknow- 
ledge as  our  only  certain  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

3.  We  acknowledge  the  power  and  independence  of 
particular  churches,  and  that  no  authority  or  juris- 
diction is  to  be  exercised  over  them,  by  this  Associa- 
tion :  nor  will  this  Association  decide  in  any  contro- 
versy, that  may  arise,  in  any  particular  church.  But 
nevertheless  they  deem  it  their  duty  to  disown  such 
churches,  received  by  them,  which  may  have  essen- 
tially departed  from  the  faith, 

4.  We  think  it  necessary  that  such  brethren 
be  chosen  to  meet  in  this  Association  as  are 
expert,  knowing  and  judicious  in  the  Scriptures,  that 
thereby  they  may  be  able  to  administer  help  to  en- 
quiring minds,  and  give  advice  if  applied  to. 

5.  The  meeting  of  the  churches  in  this  union  is  to 
be  held  annually  in  the  city  of  New-York,  unless  cir- 
cumstances, as  to  time  and  place,  otherwise  direct ; 
and  at  such  seasons  as  shall  be  appointed,    When  the 


APPENDIX. 


Messengers  are  assembled,  after  divine  service,  for 
the  regular  proceeding  in  business,  a  Moderator  and 
Clerk  shall  be  chosen. 

6.  The  churches  are  to  be  received  into  this  As- 
sociation by  petition  ;  setting  forth  their  desire  to  be 
admitted,  their  faith,  order  and  willingness  to  be  con- 
formable to  the  rules  of  this  associated  body.  When 
it  is  read,  and  the  subject  ripened  for  a  vote,  the 
Moderator  is  to  state  the  question.  And  if  suffrage 
be  given  in  favor  of  the  question  by  the  members 
present,  the  Moderator  is  to  declare  that  such  church 
is  received  ;  in  token  of  which  he  is  to  give  the  Mes- 
senger or  Messengers  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
and  invite  them  to  take  their  seats. 

7.  The  churches  belonging  to  this  Association  are 
to  send  letters  at  the  time  of  their  annual  meeting  ad- 
dressed to  the  Association,  mentioning  the  names  of 
the  Messengers  and  their  authority  to  act  for  their 
churches*  Also  the  state  of  the  churches  represent 
ed,  relative  to  their  peace  and  union  ;  their  increase 
by  baptism  or  otherwise  %  their  decrease  by  death, 
dismission  or  excommunication,  and  their  total  num- 
ber. If  any  query  arise,  or  business  be  proposed,  it 
is  to  be  inserted  in  the  Church's  letter  by  way  of  post- 
script. 

66  The  above  Plan,  &c.  having  been  carefully  ex- 
amined and  corrected,  was  signed  by  the  following 
Messengers  of  the  churches." 

Churches.  Messengers. 

fWILLIAM  VAN  HORNE, 

0   *  l  ™  •        J  BENJAMIN  BLACKFORD, 
Scotch  Plains,    4  JQHN  STrrE8> 

^ROBERT  FITZ  RANDOLPH, 
n   .     a  /BENJAMIN  COLES, 

uyster-vay,       ^  ALBERT  ALBERT  SON* 
«     .  ~  f  JOHN  BROOKFIELD* 

Moms-Town,   j  MICHAEL  PEARC  E, 

("BENJAMIN  FOSTER, 
j  SAMUEL  DODGE, 
Ut.  Ncxv-York,  <[  AB  HA  Li  AM  CANNON, 
J  WILLIAM  NORRIS, 
I  JOHN  BEDIENT, 


APPENDIX. 


10* 


.  v  .    f  FRANCIS  VAN  DYKE, 

2nd.  New-York,  |  J0SEPH  STOUT. 

Canoe- Brook,       ISAAC  PRICE, 

cf  f     77     ?     /  ELKANAH  HOLMES. 
Maren-istafta,    |NicHOLAS  COX. 

Extracted  from  "  The  Minutes  of  the  proceedings  of 
a  convention  of  Baptist  churches,  in  New-York,  Oct 
19,  20,  and  21,  171)1,  informing  the  New-York  Bap 
fist  Association." 

In  Oct.  1792,  live  churches  were  added  to  the 
above  named  seven  :  See  Sermon  p.  16* ;  and  the  time 
of  meeting  was  altered,  to  the  last  Wednesday  but 
one  in  May :  at  which  time,  annually,  the  Associa 
tion  has  met  ever  since.  At  the  late  session,  how 
ever,  [May  1813,]  it  was  agreed,  that  henceforward, 
this  assembly  meet  on  the  second  Wednesday  in 
May  ;  and  that  the  meeting  be  held  alternately,  with 
the  First  Church  in  New-York  and  some  one  of  the 
churches  belonging  to  the  connexion,  in  New- Jersey, 
The  next  meeting  of  the  New- York  Baptist  Associa- 
tion is  to  be  held  at  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  at 
Samptown,  [N.  J.]  on  the  second  Wednesday  in 
Mat,  1814,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M. 


ER II  AT  Ac 


Of  these,  such  as  might  lead  to  any  mistake,  may  bt 
corrected  thus: 

Page  14.  In  the  note, line  2  from  the  bottom,  forllanes^ 
read  Hanis. 

- —  21.  In  the  note,  line  16  from  the  top,  for  debates, 
read  debate. 

—  32.  In  the  text,  line  9  from  the  bottom,  for  A- 

pril  4th,  read  April  7  th. 

~—  37.  In  the  note  containing  the  names  of  those 
dismissed  to  form  Zoar,  for  Wceb,  read 
Webb,  and  for  Griffliths,  read  Griffiths. 
N.  B.  The  note  respecting  my  joining  the  church, 

is,  through  my  own  inadvertency,  attached  to  a 

wrong  date:  the  time  I  joined  the  church  was  April 

4th,  1806.    See  page  32. 

[In  the  Narrative  and  Appendix.] 

Page  10,  line  1,  for  page  42,  read  p.  43. 
«  27,  line  10,  for  court,  read  count, 

—  34,  line  6  from  the  bottom,  for  in,  read  on. 
«—  45,  L 10  from  the  top,  for  churches,  read  church. 


